Columbus – Auditor of State Keith Faber today issued a finding for recovery against Fiscal Officer Jennifer Henkle in an audit for McDonald-Roundhead Joint Recreational District (Hardin County).

“Theft in office is a serious crime that will not be treated lightly,” said Auditor Faber. “The $2,000 the Fiscal Officer stole turned into jail time, restitution of even more money, and a criminal record. Theft just doesn’t pay off.”

Henkle withdrew $2,000 cash on June 16, 2017 from a checking account held by the District. The withdrawal was not recorded on the District’s cash disbursements ledger and was not supported by documentation or deposited back at a later date. In an attempt to cover the misappropriated funds from the District’s Board, Henkle altered the June, July, and August 2017 bank statements before presenting them to the Trustees to approve. This resulted in multiple felony offenses.

On February 25, 2019, Henkle was indicted on two counts of Theft in Office F-4, three counts of Tampering with Records F-3, two counts of Money Laundering F-3, and two counts of Attempted Theft in Office M-1. In June, she plead guilty to one count of Grand Theft F-4, one count of Tampering with Records F-3, and one count of Attempted Theft in Office M-1. She was sentenced to twenty days in jail, five years of Community Control, and ordered to pay $8,068 in restitution. Audit costs accounted for $6,068 of the restitution and the remaining $2,000 went toward the McDonald-Roundhead Joint Recreational District’s General Fund.

Henkle’s bonding company, CNA Surety, is jointly and severally liable in the amount of $2,000.

A full copy of this audit report is available online.

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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. 

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