Ex-Wauseon councilman found guilty of theft charge

9/3/2014

WAUSEON — Former Wauseon City Councilman Fred Allen pleaded no contest Tuesday to a felony count of theft in office for stealing county property while he was Fulton County’s inspector of weights and measures.

Allen, 62, was then found guilty of the charge in Fulton County Common Pleas Court by visiting Judge J.T. Stelzer of Williams County. As part of a plea agreement, a charge of tampering with records is to be dismissed at sentencing.

The indictment alleged he stole unspecified “property or services” owned by the county. Neither Fulton County Prosecutor Scott Haselman nor Allen’s attorney Gregory VanGunten was available for comment.

Allen was a member of Wauseon City Council and assistant fire chief for the city’s volunteer fire department at the time of his indictment in June. He has since resigned his council seat and was reminded by Judge Stelzer that he may not run for office again.