APA official misused state computer, IG says

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

An Ohio Adult Parole Authority supervisor improperly used his state-assigned APA computer in support of his unauthorized second job as a part-time Youngstown State University criminal justice instructor, the Ohio Inspector General’s Office reported Wednesday.

Jeff Ervin, parole services supervisor, remains on administrative leave from his APA job. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction will review the IG’s report “to determine appropriate next steps,” said JoEllen Smith, ODRC spokeswoman.

Ervin could not be reached to comment Wednesday.

The ODRC, of which the APA is a part, initiated the inspector general’s probe when it reported Ervin was trying to get permission to download a substantial number of personal files from his state-assigned computer.

The IG’s computer forensics analysis revealed many of the files Ervin was trying to remove were related to his YSU job.

The report of the probe has been shared with the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ohio Ethics Commission.