CIRCLEVILLE, OH (Sept. 16, 2025) – Salt Creek Township Trustee James E. Fox has pleaded guilty to charges connected to misuse of township resources, according to court records filed in Pickaway County Common Pleas Court.
Fox entered a guilty plea to one misdemeanor count of soliciting or accepting improper compensation. As part of the case, the court has ordered a pre-sentence investigation (PSI) before sentencing.
The plea stems from a June indictment that accused Fox of two felony counts of theft in office and the misdemeanor charge. The allegations followed an investigation by the Ohio Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), which began after Fox admitted during a March 2024 public meeting that he used a township-owned truck and gravel to address flooding issues at his son’s property.
The SIU, which focuses on public corruption cases, has secured more than 130 convictions since 2019, resulting in over $13 million in restitution.
Fox’s sentencing date will be set following completion of the PSI.
Officials also stressed that Sam Fox, a former Salt Creek Township trustee, is not connected to this investigation.
The Auditor of State’s office encourages the public to report suspected fraud through its anonymous fraud hotline at 866-FRAUD-OH (866-372-8364) or online.
