(LISBON, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that the former director of the Columbiana County Drug Task Force has been sentenced to serve time in prison after pleading guilty to crimes committed while overseeing the task force in 2011 and 2012.
During a hearing in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court this afternoon, visiting Judge Richard Reinbold sentenced Daniel Downard, 42, to serve a sentence of 18 months in prison.
Downard, of Lisbon, pleaded guilty in November to a bill of information on felony charges of theft in office, unauthorized use of property, and attempted tampering with evidence.
"The investigation found that the defendant used his role as the task force director to manipulate task force funds and records for his own personal benefit," said Attorney General DeWine. "This is a clear example of public corruption and misuse of public fund for which violators must be held accountable."
The investigation, which was conducted by authorities with the Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), found that Downard gave himself an unauthorized raise and used task force funds to pay for a cell phone that he provided to a family member for personal use. The investigation also found that Downard submitted false documentation to the court regarding the destruction of evidence.
As part of the plea, Downard was ordered to surrender his peace officer certificate, which prevents him from serving as a peace officer in Ohio in the future.
The case was prosecuted by attorneys with Attorney General DeWine's Special Prosecutions Section, which can be called on to prosecute major felony cases such as homicides, sex offenses against children, white-collar crimes, and public corruption. In 2014, attorneys with the Special Prosecutions Section opened more than 400 cases in 69 counties.
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