Ex-Dunkirk village clerk forged checks, audit says

11/14/2008

DUNKIRK, Ohio A state audit released Thursday for the Hardin County community of Dunkirk showed the former village clerk forged the signature of village officials and wrote checks to himself totaling more than $145,000 in a year.

Thomas L. Foltz, 61, was indicted in July by a Hardin County grand jury on 16 charges, including theft in office, aggravated theft, tampering with records, and forgery, although he was later found incompetent to stand trial.

The audit revealed that the former clerk wrote himself 56 checks totaling $145,600 between April, 2007, and last April.

All the checks had Mr. Foltz s signature as well as the mayor s, although the mayor s signature was forged, authorities said.