After reading the headlines in both of yesterday's papers one thought kept coming to mind. Back in the early 19th century Sir Walter Scott wrote "Oh what tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive". I hope I'm wrong but the findings of a special state audit seem to have a pretty strong case going on.
Wellsville resident, native and former council member, County Health Commissioner Bob Morehead has been indicted by the County Grand Jury and will face seven criminal counts. He has been charged with one count of theft in office, another count of theft and five counts of forgery for allegedly signing other people's names to charge card slips. If that is true it means he knew that using the Health Commission charge card was wrong and tried to cover his butt by using other people's names.
All the alleged offenses occurred in an eight year time frame beginning in 1996. During regular state audits there were two findings for recovery issued to Morehead for misuse of health commission funds. According to newspaper accounts the findings for recovery were for the purchase of books, groceries, tickets to a Rolling Stone's concert and other non-related health commission items. He's accused of double dipping on mileage expense allowance. The findings prompted County Prosecutor Bob Herron to ask for a special prosecutor to be appointed by the State Auditors Office to investigate the matter earlier this year. Herron used his favorite excuse of conflict of interest on this one too.
Apparently the special prosecuter felt they had enough to go to the grand jury for the indictment. I hope they are wrong and that there is something in error. The commissioner is appointed to that position by the county health board. Although it is not an elected position his career as a public official is now in serious jeopardy. How do the board members get in their position? They may have a pall cast over their positions as well if the alleged offenses stand. The audit was first made public three years ago. The second one came out this past January.
Morehead has been with the health board since 1987 and was appointed commissioner in 1992. He faces arraignment December 20th in County Common Pleas Court. He faces jail time, fines and orders to repay if convicted or he pleas guilty to the charges. If he is convicted or pleas guilty to the theft in office charge he is automatically done by law. If the alleged offenses are true what a disgraceful way to end a twenty year career and the reputation of one of the ville's notables. If they are true... stupid, stupid, stupid.
With Dave Smith and his troubles all-in-all it hasn't been a good year for county officials. The picture came from the Health Board's web site. "Oh what tangled webs we weave"...
ole nib
24 comments:
Does he get to stay at his job while this is all pending?
According to Mary Ann Greier's article the next board meeting is Dec. 19th. A spokeswoman for the State Auditor's office said that is up to them. However, even though the evidence may be pretty strong, an individual is innocent until proven guilty in this country. We'll have to wait to see what the board does but I'm guessing they will wait to see what happens before taking any action.
Make him pay the money back and then let him retire. He did a good job while he was in office. Same with the Sheriff.
Learn to forgive and forget.
[Quote: Those without sin cast the first stone said...
Make him pay the money back and then let him retire. He did a good job while he was in office. Same with the Sheriff.
Learn to forgive and forget.]
So, you're saying all the crooks we see in court every single day should just be allowed to pay for what they stole and go on their merry way, no fines, no jail time, no repercussions?
Or is that only good for PUBLIC crooks?
I say they should face the same punishment as everyone else.
I know plenty of people (including two relatives) currently facing jail time for crimes they allegedly committed and you can bet they'd like to be able to just be forgiven and forgotten but my guess is they will BOTH being paying big fines, sitting in jail and never be able to get another job as long as they live (well, I guess that's where the "retire" part would come in).
Get real. If he did the crime, he should pay the price.
And, another question: if this was going on for EIGHT years, according to the paper, where the hell were the state auditors?
It took a newspaper reporter to ferret it out, even though I assume the health department's books are audited every single year.
Oh, and P.S., I personally like Bob Morehead. This is not about him as a person but as a public official who has to be held accountable for his use of PUBLIC funds (translation: tax dollars).
Totally agree with get real...not to bring up the subject again but as long as you have the name (JC Amato) you don't have to hide in shame for your crimes JOE BLOW WOULD BE IN JAIL AWAITING TRIAL AND YOU KNOW THAT FOR A FACT...MAKE ALL OF THEM PAY THE SAME PRICE AS WE WOULD FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE..
i agree with anonymous 620, I think that Amato kid should be in Jail instead of being at home with his new girlfriend living life like he did nothing.... that is just wrong and everyone knows it.. if that was anyone else they would be in jail, he EXECUTED his wife, and the court system does not care, gees i hope his new girlfriend does not get pms, what if he does it again, will it be swept under the rug.AGAIN
I agree..he should not get special treatment because he is/was a public official.
I think JC's a great guy. Shame on him for moving forward with his life, I'm glad he was able to attain a new girlfriend and enjoy a new promising future.
Only two people know what happened that day, both of them fired a gun, one just happened to get shot.
I say Merry Xmas Jack! Happy New Years and Warmest Regards!
to clearly the best,
please explain to me how you can kill your wife and be okay with it, there would not be enough alcohol or major drugs in this world for me to live with the guilt of taking another life...does he have guilt???? if he does it is human if not it is called downright disgusting
i bet ya tonya's family thought
she had a promising future before JC took her life, or did she matter
Mr. Get Real,
Well it looks like you come from a family that probably includes a couple horse thieves too!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAH
I know that you will agree that both of those men have served the public in their positions for a long time. So a lengthy trial will not do anyone any good except for the lawyers involved. You know that the prosecuting (procrastinating) attorney will have to hire someone else to do the work anyhow!! Then, if convicted he could retire anyway. SO...We (the taxpayers) end up with thousands of dollars in legal bills and the end result is still the same...as far as jail time goes I really don't think that will happen. There are too many other people on a waiting list to do time. If time is decreed then it will be at a country club not a real jail.
I do agree with you that the state auditors should have caught that mistake a long time ago. The newspaper should find out who at the state level should be held accountable for that snafu. Also what motivated the "newspaper reporter to ferret it out"? Just got curious?
As far as the sheriff goes, If you have never got behind the wheel and drove after having a drink or taken any pills that might make you drowsy, then you do lead a gifted life, whatever you are doing keep it up. No, I have never BEEN caught DUI however I know that there are times that I could have been. Even taking cold medication is considered driving under the influence. Did I know better? What do you think?
You missed the point of my statement entirely. As I stated earlier, "Those without sin cast the first stone." SO I'm guessing that you are without sin. That means that you have NEVER lied, cheated anyone, NEVER took advantage of anyone in any situation, NEVER done anything bad in your life, NOT just was NEVER CAUGHT doing it.
Have a great day!!
Not casting the first stone:
First off, it's Mrs Real to you, not Mr...ha-ha.
And, ironically, I DO have horse thieves in my Irish background.
I agree a lengthy trial is foolhardy but that is Mr. Morehead's and Sheriff Smith's constitutional right.
I still think both men should be tried like anyone else. I've seen many cases in recent months where otherwise upstanding citizens have gone to court (or are waiting for court hearings) for similar infractions (example: teacher and bus driver who took money from a school fund; a teacher who absconded with PTO money).
They should be held to AT LEAST the same standard to which I would be held if I were caught stealing money.
As for me never making a mistake, sure I have. But I have NEVER driven a vehicle after drinking, have never done drugs and try not to lie about anything other than small white lies.
The last "perfect" person I ever heard about died on a cross, and I sure am not in that lofty category. But I try to be a good citizen and don't do illegal things intentionally or with forethought (let's face it, traveling 65 miles an hour on the stretch between East Liverpool and Wellsville is a crime but I do it).
Some people, such as Smith and Morehead, are expected to meet certain standards, no matter what you think.
As far as Mr. Amato, I still say I would love to see my relatives getting the treatment he is.
One can't even get bond at a level he can ever hope to get out of jail prior to his trial because it was set at an exorbitant rate.
Is that fair when Mr. Amato admitted KILLING someone and hasn't even been charged let alone had bail set?
I think not.
His self defense claim is a case of he said, she said, just the same as my relative's case (although his crime was certainly not a murder, and he's out free while my relative is sitting in jail, waiting to see who the jury is going to believe.
To not perfect but trying:
I am sorry that there is not equal treatment for your relative. It is unfair, and I am sure hurts that someone like JC runs about as if nothing has happened. I pray things will turn out well for your relative. I guess I just want you to know that there are people who know it isnt right and feel for you and your family.
I am dumbfounded by you people. Don't you have any loyalty? Tonya wasn't from Wellsville, JC has lived here his whole life, I'm gonna support my neighbor. Hell I'd even go hunting with him. He's one hell of a shot that JC Amato.
His family is good people, they been public servants in this town and this county for decades, give them a break for cying out loud.
Obviously JC is a good shot which is exactly why he should be in jail.
I am not too bright but I wonder if Mr. Amato and his wife carried loaded guns in their home all the time?
If he had to go get his gun to return fire why didn't he just leave the house, and get the cops to have her arrested for attempted murder?
If he walked around the house with a loaded firearm what was all that about?
I carry loaded guns everywhere I go. What's the big deal, she was probably shooting her mouth off like most women do, she tried to take a shot but she didn't have the extensive training that he has.
to My Gun is bigger than yours.
Yes, he has always kept loaded guns on him at all times. Go to his door now, he will answer like he's ready for war, as rumor has it. And his new girlfriend told someone that he was strapped around his waste with dynamite, and that's only rumor...but it wouldn't surprise me. It just sickens me all togther that he is free from this
Well,
I guess that in the 'ville it is not a bad idea to carry a gun in the house. Don't know what is going to happen next!! I guess that you don't have to worry 'bout a permit either, afterall you are in your house!!
to my gun is bigger
Yes, it is a wise move to have "A Gun" in your home for protection, but not an Armed Fort. Even after he admitted to shooting his wife between the eyes, he still has MANY weapons in his home. MANY GUNS, not one. Everyone who knows JC, knows he is not wrapped to tight anyhow.
BOB MOOREHEAD IS GREAT GUY GET OFF HIS BACK SO HE TOOK A LITTLE CASH BIG DEAL ... HE EARNED IT .. THIS IS A GREAT GUY LEAVE HIM ALONE ... SOLVE THE MURDERS IN WELLSVILLE BEFORE YU GO AFTER A GUY LIKE BOB
Mr. Morehead earns a salary and gets paid for legitimate expenses. He does not earn a little extra cash that he allegedly helped himself to through allegedly fraudulent means. He has pled not guilty. We'll have to see what is decided in the trial.
I don't think Mr. Morehead is any different than someone who goes to the Dollar Store and steals. They are not going to be treated with any special favors and neither should he.
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