(LISBON, Ohio) — Former St. Clairsville Township Sergeant Joseph Brophey was sentenced Friday to 12 months in prison for theft in office and related charges, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today.
“Cops uphold the law – it’s just not in them to break it. The badge is in their hearts before it’s ever on their chest.” Yost said. “Brophey’s actions show he was never really part of the blue, and he deserves both his sentence and the shame.”
An investigation by then-Auditor of State Yost’s office found Brophey falsified timesheets and collected overtime in the amount of $20,190.62 from 2010 to 2016. During the course of the audit and subsequent investigation, he attempted to cover up the crime.
Brophey pleaded guilty in October 2019 to felony counts of theft in office (F4), tampering with records (F3) and breaking and entering (F5). The sentence requires him to pay restitution for the falsified overtime and surrender his peace officer certification.
The Special Prosecutions Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office prosecuted the case.