New Straitsville police chief indicted again

LOGAN For the second time in less than a year, New Straitsville Police Chief Kevin Groves is facing felony charges for allegedly tampering with government records.

The 45-year-old police chief and his wife, Angela, 36, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Hocking County Common Pleas Court to claims they tampered with classified records to steal food stamp benefits, according to the seven counts included in their indictment.

"(Kevin Groves) provided Angela Groves with a letter in support of her application for Food Stamps and Medicaid benefits," alleged Melissa Schiffel, assistant prosecutor of the Ohio Attorney General's Office, in the indictments. "The writing, data, computer software ... belonged to a local state, or federal government entity."

Schiffel was assigned to the case because of a potential conflict of interest.

If convicted, Angela Groves faces up to 12 years in prison for the fraudulent food aid, valued at more than $7,500 but less than $150,000. Her felony charges include two counts of tampering with records, grand theft, and Medicaid eligibility fraud.

Kevin Groves could face seven years in prison for his alleged complicity in the theft, tampering with records and complicity in the commission of Medicaid eligibility fraud. In addition to prison time, a felony conviction would revoke his peace officer certification and remove him from his post, said Jill Del Greco, spokeswoman for the attorney general's office.

For now, the village government is responsible for deciding whether the police chief should retain his position, Del Greco said.

"Under Ohio law, if a peace officer is convicted of a felony, then they are required to turn in their certification," Del Greco said. "If convicted of a misdemeanor, there are situations where that certification can be revoked as well."

The Groves have been released on a $25,000 bond. Their trial is scheduled for March 3. They did not return the Times Recorder's messages.

A Logan resident and former Perry County Sheriff's deputy, Kevin Groves is already slated for a Dec. 18 trial in connection with another set of 2013 felony charges, including tampering with records and unlawful use of Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway, an online evidence gathering platform used to help solve and prevent crime, according to the attorney general's website. Use of the gateway while off duty is a felony offense. He faces up to 14 years in that case.

Del Greco said as detectives were investigating the initial case, more information was uncovered that led to a second indictment.

poneill@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

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