No Jail For Thieving Pike County Visitors Bureau Director
According to Auditor of State Keith Faber’s special audit released Thursday, Sharon Manson, the former Pike County Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director, was convicted of stealing $6,805.
Pike County Common Pleas Court found Sharon Manson guilty of misdemeanor counts of attempted theft in office and soliciting or accepting improper compensation. The defendant was ordered to perform 30 hours of community service, pay $250 in fines, and make restitution of $6,805.54.
Manson made full restitution. Theft of more than $1,000 is generally classified as a felony in Ohio. However, she was fined a small amount and did some community service in this case.
The Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) determined Manson improperly issued payroll checks to herself and paid the balance due on a short-term loan using the Pike County Convention and Visitors Bureau’s account.
This particular audit is available online via Search Audits. You can see that here.
Since 2019, the Special Investigations Unit has assisted in 105 convictions resulting in more than $5 million in restitution.
See the map of SIU Convictions since January 2019 here. The team receives hundreds of tips about suspected fraud annually. Tips can be submitted anonymously online or via SIU’s fraud hotline at 866-FRAUD-OH (866-372-8364).