Randy Ludlow

Columbus Dispatch

COLUMBUS - A state employee falsified paperwork to fraudulently claim more than $18,000 in military-leave pay when not on duty with the Ohio Air National Guard, the state inspector general concluded in a report released Tuesday.

Brian Kessler, who worked in the child-support office of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, submitted unsigned papers to claim 46 days of military-leave pay when he did not work for the Guard, an investigation found.

Kessler, 47, was a nine-year member of the Air National Guard working in financial management at Mansfield.

A review of records by the office of Inspector General Randall J. Meyer established that Kessler fraudulently claimed military pay totaling $18,530 between March 2013 and last December.

A suspicious supervisor had tipped off the inspector general’s office when he questioned the authenticity of a military-leave order turned in by Kessler.

Kessler, who was paid $62,806 last year, has worked for the state for 24 years.

Meyer referred his investigation to the office of Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien for consideration of criminal charges.

Meyer’s office faulted Job and Family Services officials for improperly accepting Guard leave letters that contained no signatures.

Bret Crowe, spokesman for Job and Family Services, said, “Mr. Kessler is still employed by our agency (which) will comply with the request by the Office of the Inspector General to deliver a plan within 60 days after reviewing the situation described in the report. Any potential action in regards to the staff member’s employment will be decided once that review is complete.”

Guard spokeswoman Stephanie Beougher said Kessler is a tech sergeant in the Ohio Air National Guard, a member of the 200th RED HORSE Squadron, Detachment 1, based in Mansfield. He enlisted in July 2011.

“Ohio National Guard has been fully cooperating with the state's investigation. The actions outlined in the report do not reflect the core values we expect of every National Guard member and harms the trust our organization has built with civilian employers and the public. We will review the report to determine if any military disciplinary action is appropriate,” she said.

rludlow@dispatch.com

@RandyLudlow