Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly, who was served a 25-count indictment Friday after a special grand jury reconvened in Athens earlier that day, said he plans to plead "not guilty" to the charges and pledged to citizens that "things will go on as usual."
Kelly, from his office on Washington Street in Athens, said he doesn't plan on stepping down — and even said he's already planning on "running again" for office.
"Another three years," he said. "I'm coming back, people, four years from now."
He sharply criticized the merit of the charges — including "failure to keep a cashbook" and "obstructive official business" — saying, "who keeps a cashbook? Everything is computerized. That's what they're charging me with."
He held firm that he will not step down.
"Pat Kelly was elected to do a job, and Pat Kelly will continue to serve Athens County."
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine will hold a press conference from Athens at 2:30 p.m. to announce more information on the state's investigation and the grand jury's decisions.
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