MOUNT GILEAD
A Mount Gilead police officer was arrested Tuesday on charges of receiving stolen property -- including a dozen air conditioners used to cool the Morrow County courthouse.
"We were shocked and surprised. News in a small community travels extremely fast," Morrow County Commissioner Olen Jackson said.
Morrow County deputies searched the residence of third-shift village police officer Joe Hughes. The stolen property, a single-axle trailer and several air-conditioning units, were behind Hughes' residence, according to a news release from Mount Gilead Police Chief Brian Zerman.
Hughes was the officer who took the theft report June 9, Morrow County Sheriff Steve Brenneman said.
Hughes has been charged with one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; one count of theft in office, a fourth- degree felony; two counts of receiving stolen property, fifth-degree felonies; and one count of obstruction of justice, a fifth-degree felony.
Brenneman said additional charges are possible.
Hughes was hired as a part-time Mount Gilead police officer Feb. 7, 2006, and made full-time a year later. He was cooperative when he was taken into custody at the Morrow County Correctional Facility. Hughes was released on $5,000 bond, Brenneman said.
"Our maintenance staff had gotten the air conditioners out of storage for the winter," Jackson said. "They loaded them up to take them to a service location, to wash and clean to put back into use. Before they could be put into service, the trailer and air conditioners came up missing."
Hughes was placed on unpaid administrative leave. If convicted on all charges, Hughes could face up to 9 1/2 years in prison and $12,500 in fines.
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