Former Tiffin police secretary pleads guilty to stealing from department

2/16/2018

TIFFIN — A former police department secretary pleaded guilty this week to charges related to stealing money from the department.

Holly M. England, 40, of Bascom, Ohio, pleaded guilty Wednesday to third-degree felony counts of theft in office and tampering with evidence. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 21 before Seneca County Common Pleas Judge Michael Kelbley.

According to court records, the Tiffin Police Department and the Seneca County Drug Task Force/METRICH Enforcement Unit reported on June 29 to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation about a theft from the Tiffin police station.

Agents from BCI concluded Ms. England was the suspect, according to court documents, and she admitted to the theft when questioned. Some of the stolen property was in her purse at the time.

The value of the stolen property was more than $7,500, according to court documents. Tiffin Police Chief Fredrick Stevens said Ms. England is accused of taking cash.

She was hired May 2, 2016, and fired June 29. 

Seneca County commissioners voted to appoint a special prosecutor from the Ohio attorney general’s office because Seneca County Prosecutor Derek DeVine said his office had a conflict of interest in the case.

England’s attorney, Dean Henry, did not return a phone message Thursday.

Contact Nolan Rosenkrans at nrosenkrans@theblade.com, 419-724-6086, or on Twitter @NolanRosenkrans.