Ohio Mayor Accused Of Corruption By Grand Jury

WAPAKONETA, OH — Wapakoneta Mayor Thomas Stinebaugh has been indicted on charges of public corruption, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Friday.

“This case is a textbook example of public corruption: the leveraging of a public position to gain improper personal benefits,” Yost said. “The taxpayers of Auglaize County deserve better and we’re going to ensure that no one is above the rule of law.”

Stinebaugh was indicted by a grand jury in Auglaize County. He was indicted on eight counts of having an unlawful interest in a public contract, a fourth-degree felony; eight counts of conflict of interest, a first-degree misdemeanor; and one count of theft in office, a third-degree felony.

According to the indictment, between 2016 and 2019, Stinebaugh, in his official capacity as mayor, entered into contracts with family members and a business partner. He is also accused of having the city pay for a sewer line on his property that a private company was developing, court documents said.

Stinebaugh is still currently serving as mayor of Wapakoneta. Yost said suspension proceedings will be initiated soon to remove him from office.

The case was investigated by the Ohio Ethics Commission and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The Ohio Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Section is prosecuting the case. The grand jury indictment is viewable below.