Former Dunkirk fiscal officer charged with theft

DUNKIRK - The former fiscal officer for the village has a preliminary hearing scheduled for next week on felony theft in office charges.

Thomas Foltz has been charged with two counts of theft in office and one count of theft beyond the scope, all third-degree felonies. He is scheduled to appear Tuesday in Hardin County Municipal Court. That hearing, however, could be waived with the judge sending the case to the grand jury for consideration.

Foltz is accused of stealing nearly $150,000 from March 2007 to April 16 by cashing forged checks, said Dunkirk Mayor Pam Ruhlen.

The theft was discovered last month during a routine audit by the Ohio Auditor's Office.

"He was writing himself checks and signing my name to it," she said.

State auditor spokesman Steve Faulkner said the audit was a regular routine examination of the village's financial books, not a surprise. The audit remains ongoing because of the theft, he said.

"While that review is ongoing I am unable to provide any additional details," he said.

Foltz, who held a full-time position, resigned his job, which he had held since 2002, and is out of jail on bond, Ruhlen said.

The village is bonded up to $100,000 which is similar to insurance. Any amount over the $100,000 will be the village's loss, Ruhlen said.

Ruhlen said she was in disbelief when the state auditor told her about it. Foltz had been a friend and the last person she would suspect of stealing money, she said.