In The News 23 January 2026

Finding for recovery issued against former Urbancrest employee 

COLUMBUS – A finding for recovery of $6,289.57 was issued this week against a former employee for the Village of Urbancrest in Franklin County, who was convicted of theft after depositing village checks multiple times.

Dae’Jon Triplett pleaded guilty in July 2025 to the single felony count in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. His sentence included 12 months in prison and restitution of $6,289.57 to the village.

The finding for recovery against him was included in an audit of the village’s finances from Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2023. The full report is available online at https://ohioauditor.gov/auditsearch/search.aspx.

Triplett was hired by the village in July of 2023 at a pay rate of $12 per hour. In November of 2023, village officials determined Triplett had deposited multiple checks multiple times, receiving payments totaling $8,119.12 rather than the $1,148.68 he had earned in wages.

The bank involved reimbursed the village $680.87, leaving an outstanding balance of $6,289.57 in improper pay.

Triplett was imprisoned in August 2025 following convictions in multiple criminal cases. He has not yet paid the court-ordered restitution.

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Former utility clerk for Ashley indicted

The Delaware County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against the former utility clerk for the Village of Ashley in the alleged theft of utility payments.

Allison McClain faces single felony counts of theft in office and telecommunications fraud and four felony counts of tampering with records.

Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) launched an investigation after the village identified discrepancies in utility deposits. SIU determined that McClain had stolen utility payments totaling more than $70,000 between August 2022 and May 2024.

The Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office appointed an SIU attorney as special prosecutor in the case.

Since 2019, the Special Investigations Unit has assisted in 154 convictions resulting in more than $16 million in restitution (see Map of SIU Convictions since January 2019). The team receives hundreds of tips of suspected fraud annually. Tips can be submitted anonymously online or via SIU’s fraud hotline at 866-FRAUD-OH (866-372-8364).

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••• Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 27 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service – and want it to continue – it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.

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