Top officials face criminal charges

The Owen County grand jury met yesterday and heard evidence into the conduct of the Owen County government. They handed down charges against former Deputy Judge-Executive Renaee Gaines, Judge-Executive Billy O’Banion and Treasurer Gayla Lewis.

Commonwealth Attorney Jim Crawford recommended the court issue a criminal summons for all three to be present at the Oct. 7 district court meeting.

The charges against former Deputy Judge-Executive Renaee Gaines are: two counts of theft by unlawful taking with a value of three hundred dollars or more, a class “D” felony, that took place between July 1, 2006, and April 1, 2008; two counts of first-degree official misconduct, a class “A” misdemeanor; and complicity to theft of services, a class “D” felony.

According to the indictment: she unlawfully took $16,959.75 from Owen County; she aided, assisted, counseled, conspired with or attempted to aid William O’Banion to unlawfully take $3,301.96 on two occasions, allegedly as training incentive monies; and she aided, assisted, counseled, conspired with or attempted to aid William O’Banion to write-off, waive or discharge the balance of his ambulance bill of $632.20.

The charges against Judge-Executive Billy O’Banion are: theft by unlawful taking with a value of three hundred dollars or more, a class “D” felony, that took place between July 1, 2006, and April 1, 2008; one charge of first-degree official misconduct, a class “A” misdemeanor; one charge of theft of services, a class “D” felony; and one charge of official misconduct, a class “A” misdemeanor.

According to the indictment: on Oct. 27, 2006, he unlawfully took $3,301.96, allegedly as training incentive monies and on Oct. 22 2007, he unlawfully took $3,301.96, allegedly as training incentive monies; he intentionally obtained ambulance services with a value of $1,191.50 of which his medical insurance paid $559.30 leaving a balance for him to have paid of $632.20 which he wrote-off, waived or discharged; and on or between the dates of Oct. 1 2007, and July 31, 2008, he authorized the write-off, waiver or discharge of various ambulance bills owed by individuals to Owen County for ambulance services provided by the Owen County Ambulance Service.

The charges against Gayla Lewis are: one charge of complicity to theft by unlawful taking, a class “D” felony; and two charges of official misconduct, a class “A” misdemeanor.

According to the indictment: on or about Oct. 27, 2006, and Oct. 22, 2207, she aided or assisted, counseled, conspired with or attempted to aid William O’Banion to unlawfully take $3,301.96, respectively, allegedly as training incentive monies; she aided or assisted, counseled, conspired with or attempted to aid William O’Banion to write-off, waive or discharge various ambulance bills owed by individuals to Owen County for ambulance services provided by the Owen County Ambulance Service.

A class “D” felony carries a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment and a fine of $10,000. A class “A” misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of 12 months imprisonment and a $500 fine.