Neumann, former head of Richland County Job and Family Services, to pay back $16,000

The former director of Richland County Job and Family Services has been ordered to pay back more than $16,000 for hours she did not work.

Findings for recovery totaling $16,614 were issued Tuesday against Tresa Sharlene Neumann , who was paid for more than 350 hours when she was not actually working, according to the Ohio Auditor's Office.

A finding for recovery is issued by the state auditor when public property has been misspent or misappropriated.

"I agree with the findings, and I appreciate the auditor of state (Keith Faber) for holding public employees accountable," Richland County Commissioner Darrell Banks said. "I expect the board of commissioners to make a statement on the matter at our next regularly scheduled meeting."

Because of the Fourth of July holiday, commissioners will not meet again until July 9.

The determination regarding Neumann was included in a special audit conducted by the Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit, which received a complaint that Neumann had been paid for time when she was not actually at work or was conducting personal business, among other issues.

The full special audit detailing allegations against Neumann and other JFS employees and the resulting investigation is available at ohioauditor.gov .

Auditor: Neumann took credit for hours she did not work

The special audit, which covered April 5, 2021, through Aug. 6, 2022, confirmed that Neumann either left early or arrived late, was absent altogether or conducted personal business during working hours without submission of proper leave requests.

The Auditor of State’s Office, serving as special prosecutor in the case, determined there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges but that the findings for recovery were warranted.

Neumann resigned in August 2022. She and her bonding company are jointly and severally liable for Tuesday’s findings for recovery.

Neumann headed the JFS office for 17 years. She joined the agency in October 1981 as a social worker and income maintenance worker, was promoted to program administrator in 2000 and was named director in 2005.

In December 2022, county commissioners hired Lori Bedson as Neumann's replacement.

More: Commissioners hire new directors for JFS and EMA

Another previous employee at JFS also ran into trouble. Rebecca Ann Shafer, 50, was the public assistance specialist. She was sentenced in 2023 to 42 months of probation and ordered to make $47,974 in restitution after pleading guilty to amended charges of theft in office, illegal use of WIC benefits and Medicaid eligibility fraud.

In exchange for her previous guilty pleas, the state dismissed four other counts against Shafer.

She used her position to secure nearly $50,000 in benefits for her boyfriend and his child. According to a previous news release, Shafer's actions resulted in her boyfriend and his child receiving $39,670 in Medicaid benefits and $8,304 in SNAP benefits.

Faber previously said his office received a tip from a JFS administrator. Shafer resigned in April 2021.

mcaudill@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Neumann, former head of Richland County Job and Family Services, to pay back $16,000