Crestline mayor responds to allegations from auditor's office regarding former fire chief

While longtime firefighter Matthew Wells is serving his 60-day jail sentence, questions remain.

The 52-year-old Galion resident reported to the Richland County Jail on Friday morning, as ordered by Common Pleas Judge Phil Naumoff . The judge told Wells he considered prison time for the offenses.

Wells pleaded guilty July 17 to tampering with records and theft in office, both third-degree felonies.

In exchange for his plea, the state dismissed a second count of theft in office, nine counts of tampering with records and one count of telecommunications fraud.

Wells was employed by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce from 2015-2023. He also worked for the Springfield Township Fire Department in Richland County and the Pleasant Township Fire Department in Marion.

The state auditor's office handled the investigation, which began in January 2022. The date ranges for the offenses were between Oct. 25, 2016, and July 30, 2021.

Tom Anger, an attorney for the auditor's office, said Wells began working at the township departments during time he was supposed to be working for ODE.

He either claimed work hours for two agencies or used paid leave, including sick leave, from one while working for another.

Wells ordered to make more than $26,000 in restitution

Wells made $26,363.92 in restitution.

Most recently, Wells was the fire chief at Crestline. His hiring date was Aug. 21, 2023, according to Mayor Linda Horning-Pitt.

Wells was indicted in October, then re-indicted in April, with the state dismissing the previous case. While his offenses did not take place there, the auditor's office suggested he continued to work in Crestline after his plea.

"Mr. Wells pled guilty on June 12. That forever barred him from public service or public employment," Anger said at the sentencing hearing. "He's been working since then as the fire chief at Crestline. The state's position is that's a violation. That's troubling."

Horning-Pitt said Wells was not working as chief, that he was helping with the transition.

"My concern is that it sounds like the state auditor's office was making these statements as if they were true and validated," the mayor said. "No one called to verify either of their statements. So where did they get this information? Why didn't they contact the village for validation?"

The News Journal attempted to reach Anger to elaborate on statements he made in court. Through an office spokesman, he declined to comment further.

Anger said last month that his office also had heard Wells planned to work as a paid consultant for the village of Crestline when his case was resolved.

"That's not allowed," he said.

Crestline mayor continues to support Wells

Horning-Pitt offered her explanation.

"There was an idea to have him as a consultant, but absolutely nothing was confirmed or ever brought to a vote," she said. "It was simply an idea said out loud but never acted on."

Crestline's mayor continues to support Wells.

"He was very positive for our community. He was very outgoing and prepared excellent reports for village council," Horning-Pitt said "Our community loved him and appreciated his efforts rebuilding our fire department.

"We now have an up-to-date code and refreshed fire department. With Chief Wells, the fire department was able to accomplish so many things that had not been done in years."

Kyle Atherton is the new Crestline fire chief.

mcaudill@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Crestline mayor responds to allegations from auditor's office regarding former fire chief