HAMILTON — Butler County Board of Elections Director Tippi Slaughter was indicted Wednesday for theft in office by a grand jury within a week of being placed on indefinite paid administrative leave.

Slaughter faces two felony counts for allegedly making $1,700 worth of unauthorized withdrawals from the bank account of the Butler County Democratic Party, where she served as treasurer. If convicted, she could be sentenced to up to 18 months in jail.

Slaughter, 47, is latest one on a growing list of Butler County officials who have faced legal or ethical problems in the past five years.

She declined to talk when contacted last week and has since referred questions to her Hamilton-based attorney, Dennis Adams. He declined to comment Wednesday.

Slaughter resigned as party treasurer June 16 and repaid the $1,700, county Democratic Party Chairwoman Jocelyn Bucaro told Cox Media Group in a statement. That same day she and warehouse worker Chris Hatfield were suspended with pay following a break-in at the board office at 1802 Princeton Road.

According to the indictment, Slaughter committed the theft offense from Jan. 5 through May 25. The indictment also states the alleged theft was at least $500 and less than $5,000. She is scheduled to be arraigned June 29 by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Craig Hedric.

Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser declined comment on the pending case, but said both charges pertain to the transactions from the Democratic Party.

Bucaro said Wednesday that she has been subpoenaed to testify if the case goes to trial. Bucaro said last week the party had no plans to press charges against Slaughter, who still holds her elected position as a member of the party’s Central Committee.

I continue to be shocked and saddened about the entire event, she said. (Since) I am a potential witness in this case, I don’t feel it’s very appropriate for me to comment any further than that.

The Butler County Board of Elections will meet this morning in executive session to discuss personnel and security issues. Elections board Chairman Tom Ellis said he wasn’t sure whether the board would take action concerning the employment status of Slaughter or Hatfield.

I hope we will have a statement to issue on behalf of the board to clear up some of the questions that may still be lingering, Ellis said.

In fairness to all of the parties involved, and to protect the Board of Elections, we thought it best to place these individuals on paid leave. Now we are able to see the entire picture that (investigators) will present to us.

Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones said the investigation that began with the break-in at the board of elections is continuing.

We are looking into everything, said Jones who declined to discuss specifics.

It is a sad day, he added, noting he has known Slaughter for several years.

Jones said Slaughter admitted to taking the money and has paid it back, but that does not excuse the conduct.

You can say you are sorry, Jones said, but that still doesn’t take away from the crime that has been committed.

James C. Schmidt Jr., 45, who was living at the Budget Inn Hotel on Dixie Highway in Fairfield, was arrested last Tuesday and charged with breaking into and vandalizing the board office and the Clerk of Courts Title office at 530 Wessel Drive in Fairfield.

Slaughter filed for and was granted a domestic violence protection order June 13 against Schmidt, whom she identified in the court petition as an ex-boyfriend and ex-employee.

The two lived together for a year and a half and separated about two months ago, according to the protection order petition.

In the petition, Slaughter said Schmidt told me he was going to kill me and get me fired from jobs. She also said Schmidt made harassing phone calls, threats at the workplace and threats against her family, according to the petition. Slaughter also said Schmidt chased me in my car trying to wreck into me and has threatened to burn my trucks down, according to the petition. The petition did not detail the time frame during which these alleged incidents occurred.

Schmidt has a long criminal history dating back to the early 1990s, according to Butler County Clerk of Courts documents and Butler County Sheriff’s officials. Chief Deputy Anthony Dwyer said Schmidt has served time in prison.

Schmidt appeared in Hamilton Municipal Court Wednesday, where he waived his right to a preliminary hearing and his case was sent to a grand jury for consideration. He also waived a preliminary hearing in Fairfield Municipal Court on charges of possession of criminal tools and breaking and entering in connection with the title office incident.

What others have to say

Former Butler County Board of Elections director Betty McGary, who Slaughter replaced in January and assisted for five years, said she continues to be saddened for Slaughter.

But there’s also many innocent victims who’s been hurt and disappointed by these unthinkable circumstances, McGary said. I pray for her family and the staff of the board of elections.

County Commission President Chuck Furmon said he’s disappointed more than anything else.

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