News
Two Former Laurelville Police Chiefs Indicted
By: Debra Tobin | Logan Daily News
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A former Laurelville Police Chief was recently indicted by the grand jury on 11 felony charges and two misdemeanor charges.
James E. Taylor, 44, of Circleville, has been charged with 10 felony counts of unauthorized use of property (F-5); two misdemeanor counts of unauthorized use of property (M-1); and one felony count of grand theft of a motor vehicle (F-4).
The charges allege Taylor misused the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway data program to secure information on individuals for intentions unrelated to his job or law enforcement. The charges also allege Taylor did knowingly obtain a 2001 Ford Crown Victoria by deceit from the Pike County Commissioners.
Taylor was represented in court by defense attorney Alyssa Parrott, who explained that Taylor is a positive member of the community, a sole supporter of his family, is presently working as a security guard at Rumpke, and has already surrendered his firearms from his residence.
Although this case was filed by the Ohio Attorney General’s office, Taylor was arraigned in Hocking County.
Hocking County Common Pleas Court Judge John Wallace imposed a $50,000 recognizance bond and told Taylor he is to have no firearms in his residence.
Taylor is scheduled for a pretrial at 1:30 p.m. May 27; and jury trial beginning at 9 a.m. July 21.
Frank Diamond, 42, former acting police chief of the Village of Laurelville, also was indicted by the grand jury on one count of receiving stolen property. He is accused of receiving the 2001 Ford Crown Victoria allegedly obtained by Taylor.
Taylor was the Laurelville Police Chief until 2009, at which time Diamond was hired as acting police chief.
According to Jill Del Greco, public information officer for the AG’s office, the cases are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which began in January 2013 at the request of the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office.