Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly's whopping 25 felonies he'll face in court this fall now aren't the only charges pending against Athens County's law enforcement leaders.
Glouster Police Chief Luke Mace faces an indictment of his own, according to a release from Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn's Office on Tuesday. Twelve charges are racked up in the indictment.
Blackburn announced Tuesday that a grand jury returned that indictment against Mace. The indictment includes five felonies — including three fifth-degree felony counts of obstructing justice, plus additional counts of theft in office and possessing criminal tools, both of which are fifth-degree felonies.
Mace was arrested Friday after a joint operation by four local law enforcement entities, including the Ohio University Police Department.
Mace allegedly helped a 23-year-old woman named HIllary Hooper elude local law enforcement officials, according to the release, despite facing multiple warrants for her arrest — including one from Perry County. Another warrant was issued in Athens County after she was indicted for possession of heroin.
Blackburn said Mace told Glouster Mayor Miles Wolf the woman would work as a confidential informant for his office, though there's nothing to indicate she provided Mace with any information.
Shortly thereafter, Blackburn said, Mace began dating the woman, who he called "softy" because of she had "the softest skin he had ever touched." They spent at least two nights together at Mace's house, he added.
Blackburn accused Mace in the release of using his position "as a dating service" from March 28 to May 23, adding that Mace allegedly opted not to execute multiple warrants. Mace also provided false information to one of Blackburn's investigators.
“It’s a sad day when a public official like Lucas Mace let’s our community down and fails to uphold the public trust," Blackburn said in the release.
At the news conference Monday, Blackburn acknowledged that he's no stranger to working investigations on local police officers.
He said between the Kelly case and others, Athens County is on a "run" of cases where police officers have abused their powers.
