Fulton County official indicted

8/13/2003

WAUSEON - Fulton County's personal computer network coordinator, Jeff Avina, has been indicted on four counts of theft in office and three other felony charges and placed on administrative leave from his job.

Mr. Avina, 39, of Fayette, Ohio, who has held the position since 1999, pleaded not guilty last month during his arraignment before visiting Judge Charles Wittenberg of Lucas County Common Pleas Court.

Mr. Avina was placed on leave from his $62,400-a-year post shortly after a Fulton County grand jury returned the indictment.

Mr. Avina was indicted on seven charges, all fifth-degree felonies. In connection with one count of misuse of credit cards, the indictment charges that between Jan. 10 and Feb. 24, Mr. Avina used a Fulton County credit card for propane gas and satellite television services worth more than $500 and less than $5,000.

Other charges include two counts of theft. One of the theft counts is in connection with depriving a propane company of its property by deception. The other count is in connection with the use of a Fulton County credit card beyond the scope of the consent given for using the card.

Mr. Avina, if convicted, could be imprisoned for a year on each count and fined $2,500 on each count.

He declined to comment yesterday.