For Immediate Release:                                                      

July 2, 2019                                                                           

Auditor Faber’s Statement Regarding the Arraignment and Motion for Suspension of Charles Reader

Columbus – Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader  today was arraigned on 16 counts including Conflict of Interest, Theft in Office, Theft, Tampering with Evidence, Tampering with Records, and Securing Writings by Deception.  The Auditor’s office yesterday filed a motion with the Ohio Supreme Court to commence suspension proceedings against Reader in accordance with Ohio Revised Code 3.16. Reader was served the motion today.

Auditor Faber issued the following statement:

“The details of this case demonstrate that Charles Reader has abused his position for personal gain and violated his oath to faithfully and lawfully serve the people of Pike County. His suspension is necessary to restore the trust of the public in the members of law enforcement that have sworn to protect and serve them.”

Like all defendants, Charles Reader is entitled to a presumption of innocence until convicted by a court of jury of his peers.

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The Auditor of State’s office, one of five independently elected statewide offices in Ohio is responsible for auditing more than 6,000 state and local government agencies. Under the direction of Auditor Keith Faber, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies, and promotes transparency in government.