Columbus – A former athletic director of the Tipp City Exempted Village School District (Miami County) was ordered to pay a fine and perform community service after he was found guilty today of having a conflict of interest.

“It’s improper – and illegal – for school administrators to lobby for the hiring of family members,” Auditor Yost said. “There always needs to be a level playing field, free of nepotism, in the employment process.”

Matt Shomper pleaded no contest this morning to a first-degree misdemeanor count of conflict of interest before Judge Gary Nasal of the Miami County Municipal Court. Shomper received a suspended 90-day jail sentence and was ordered to pay a $500 fine and perform 35 hours of community service. 

An investigation by Auditor Yost’s Public Integrity Assurance Team found that Shomper advocated the hiring of three relatives to work at district sporting events. The three individuals were paid a combined $1,700 in a little more than a year.

Auditor of State Assistant Legal Counsel Robert Smith served as special prosecutor in the case.

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The Auditor of State’s office, one of five independently elected statewide offices in Ohio, is responsible for auditing more than 5,900 state and local government agencies.  Under the direction of Auditor Dave Yost, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies and promotes transparency in government.

Contact:
Dominic Binkley
Public Information Officer
614-644-1111