Ex Montgomery County Auditor’s Office employee charged with theft, destruction of nearly $190K

A former Montgomery County Auditor’s Office employee is charged with theft in office and tampering with records, according to felony charges filed Friday in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.

An indictment accuses Jodi Hockett, 61, of Miamisburg, of theft between $150,000 and $750,000 between May 1, 2023 and July 26, 2024. Hockett also faces a charge of tampering with records, specifically “checks having been kept by or belonging to a local, state or federal governmental entity,” according to her indictment.

Montgomery County Auditor Karl Keith in a press conference Monday afternoon said the charges are in connection to the theft and destruction of $189,000 in licensing fees.

The shortage was discovered in June this year while the auditor’s office was conducting a routine settlement of cigarette license fees — these fees are collected from grocery stores and other businesses that lawfully sell cigarettes.

Cash and checks were only missing on days Hockett was assigned to complete the daily deposit, Keith said. Hockett reportedly admitted during the investigation to pocketing the cash and destroying checks.

“I’m angry, I am outraged, and I feel betrayed,” Keith said. “These actions are a deliberate violation of the public’s trust.”

Hockett was fired on Nov. 26 after a monthslong investigation by the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office and county prosecutor’s office, according to Keith.

Keith said his office will continue to work with law enforcement to seek full restitution for the missing funds.

An indictment is an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Hockett was listed as an inmate in Montgomery County Jail as of Monday morning. The investigating agency in her case is listed as Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr.’s office, according to court records.

Hockett had worked for the county since 2014 and was paid $54,718 in 2023, according to payroll records obtained by the Dayton Daily News. During that time, she was employed as a clerk in the licensing division.

When asked what factors may have led to the missing funds, Keith said Hockett “has not been forthcoming” or cooperative.

“She did not seem to be upset with her work assignments,” he said. “She was one of the people that was held in high regard in that department, that her coworkers looked to for assistance in doing their jobs.”

A spokesperson from the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office said they are not involved in this investigation.

This story is developing and will be updated when more information is available.