10/11/11 Former police officer says criminal acts born of desperation

  • By Nick Sabo
  • October 11, 2011
  • 318
                        
SUMMARY: Gets two years for theft, theft of firearm charges A former police officer was sentenced Tuesday Oct. 11 in Holmes County Common Pleas Court on theft charges. John Q. Findley, 47, 131 Otto Street, Akron, was sentenced by Common Pleas Judge Robert D. Rinfret to two years in prison on charges of grand theft of a firearm and theft. The charges stem from Jan. 24, 2011, when Findley stole a .50 caliber muzzleloader and two hunting bows from a Millersburg business. According to Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Chris Oehl, Findley entered the business while the owner was at lunch and took the firearm and bows. He was observed placing the stolen items in his trunk before driving away. Overnight, the business was burglarized and nine bows were stolen. Findley contacted the business later and offered to pay for muzzleloader and all the bows, but stated he did not steal the other nine, Oehl said. Findley has not been charged in the overnight burglary. The two bows and firearm were never recovered. Findley was on parole at the time and left Ohio in February. He turned up in Florida, where he was convicted of a misdemeanor offense and served six months in jail. Authorities brought Findley to Holmes County Aug. 20, at a cost of $815.32 to transport him. The charges were brought against Findley in a March 14 grand jury indictment. Findley was previously convicted of receiving stolen property in Holmes and Coshocton counties in 2010 and served a prison sentence. Findley was formerly a commissioned police officer and a bailiff in the Ashland County court system. Speaking before Rinfret, Findley said his transition from peace officer to criminal was born out of desperation. “I’ve worked in this type of setting before” as an officer and bailiff, Findley said. “I’ve listened to defendants say why they’ve done these things...People do desperate things when they find themselves in what they perceive as desperate circumstances.” Findley said he stole to help out his daughter, who found herself in legal trouble. Findley said she needed $300. Findley said he fled to Florida because he was suicidal and “ready to end it all”. Rinfret further ordered Findley to pay $750 for the stolen items and $815.32 for the transportation costs from Florida.


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