back to Recent Releases

PRESS RELEASE 06/13/2008

HAMILTON COUNTY PROSECUTOR JOSEPH T. DETERS AND STATE AUDITOR MARY TAYLOR ANNOUNCE THE INDICTMENT OF FORMER LOCKLAND MAYOR’S COURT CLERK DANA MYNATT

Today, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters and Auditor of State Mary Taylor announced the indictment of former village of Lockland Mayor's Court Clerk, Dana Mynatt. Mynatt is charged with one count of Theft in Office (F3), one count of Unauthorized Use of Property (F3), two counts of Tampering with Records (F3) and one count of Forgery (F5). The defendant was the clerk for the village of Lockland Mayor's Court and was responsible for all financial transactions and record keeping for the mayor's court. The defendant operated several different schemes in order to hide the theft of approximately $187,000 from the village.

Ohio Auditor of State Mary Taylor’s office uncovered the theft during a special audit of the mayor's court fiscal operations. A special audit is a comprehensive forensic examination of specific allegations of fraud or theft.

Taylor's office reviewed numerous financial transactions, mayor's court files, months of bank activity and interviewed numerous witnesses to determine the amount and extent of the theft.

Prosecutor Deters commented, "The theft and misuse of public funds will not be tolerated. We will continue to work with the Auditor’s Office to successfully prosecute this case."

Mynatt faces the possibility of 21 years in prison if convicted of these charges.

(Media inquiries may be directed to Steve Faulkner, Deputy Press Secretary for the Ohio Auditor's Office at 614-644-1111.)