Eckstein

Butler County Commissioner Jim Eckstein has been cleared of allegations he committed theft of services.

County District Attorney Richard Goldinger said the state attorney general’s office notified him that criminal charges would not be filed against Eckstein.

“Criminal charges are not warranted,” Goldinger read from the letter.

Eckstein wasn’t surprised by the results of the attorney general’s investigation.

“I’m glad I’m cleared,” he said. “I didn’t lose much sleep over it. I knew I was innocent the whole time.”

Nils Frederiksen, a spokesman for the attorney general’s office, declined to comment on the investigation.

Eckstein was accused earlier this year of stealing county resources for political purposes in a four-page document outlining his argument for buying a building rather than constructing one to address office space needs.

The “Eckstein Report” also covered other topics while criticizing the two Republican commissioners. Eckstein is the sole Democrat on the board.

He maintained his innocence when Goldinger forwarded the allegations to the state, an option the district attorney can use in avoiding a potential conflict of interest.

Along with paying a printing company for 500 copies of the report, the commissioner reimbursed the county $20 for another 100 copies.

Residents are charged 25 cents a page for any documents. However, Eckstein said he was told the cost for him was only 5 cents a page.

Goldinger said the letter from the attorney general appears to also clear Eckstein of allegedly altering a public document.

Commissioner Bill McCarrier, board chairman, wouldn’t comment because he didn’t see the letter from the attorney general’s office.

Eckstein said he would continue to print newsletters at his own cost.

“I’m doing that quarterly,” he said.