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A former Gallia County superintendent faces multiple charges, including theft in office
By: Kaitlin Thorne
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GALLIA COUNTY, Ohio (WOUB) – A former superintendent of the Gallia County Local School District was indicted on 15 different counts, including theft in office, by the Gallia County Grand Jury on Monday.
Jude Meyers faces 13 criminal counts of having an unlawful interest in a public contract, all fourth-degree felonies; one count of theft in office, a fifth-degree felony; and one count of conflict of interest, a first-degree misdemeanor, according to a press release from Auditor of State Keith Faber.
Meyers was arraigned in Gallia County Common Pleas Court on Monday and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The indictment from the Gallia County Grand Jury alleges that from Feb. 1, 2015, and June 30, 2019, Meyers used his position as superintendent to secure 13 different work contracts for his son, Marcus C. Meyers. The contracts were for substitute employee and supplemental coaching positions.
The indictment goes on to allege that Meyers used his position to commit theft from the school district as well as the use of district property for personal use, including using district vehicles to move between residences and mowing his lawn with school lawn equipment.
Meyers served as a superintendent of Gallia County Local Schools from 2014 through mid-2021, when he resigned to accept a position as the superintendent of Shawnee Local Schools in Lima, Ohio. According to Shawnee School Board President Clay Balyeat, the board is allowing Meyers to continue to work while the criminal case is ongoing.