Wells worked in-person until March 2020 at what was then called the Ohio Department of Education. The department allowed him to work flexible hours as long as he worked between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and allowed him to use time off so he could also work as a firefighter.
According to the audit, Wells used leave from the department to work his other positions. But there were times when he instead claimed hours working at ODE while working a job between 2016 and 2021 as a part-time firefighter in Marion County and then in Springfield Twp. of Richland County.
Wells was an education program specialist for trade and industrial programs between November 2015 and August 2023, when he resigned. He also worked as an assistant fire chief for Springfield Twp. beginning in December 2020 and ending with his resignation in July 2021.
Wells was indicted in Richland County and pleaded guilty to one count of theft in office, a fourth-degree felony, and one count of tampering with records, a third-degree felony. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail and 48 months of probation, and he was ordered to pay $26,388.
The restitution went to ODEW’s Career Technical Education Basic Grant and General funds.
The Auditor of State Special Investigations Unit investigated based on a tip they received. The investigation began in January 2022.
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