A court arraignment for a former Orange Township official charged with theft in office has been delayed until Feb. 8 after he broke his ankle Sunday.
Thomas G. Farahay, 64, of 21 Carriage Drive, Delaware, was charged with theft in office, which is a fifth-degree felony, on Dec. 2 by the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office. He was originally scheduled to be arraigned in Delaware County Common Pleas Court Monday morning.
However, Farahay’s attorney, Keith Boger, filed a court motion Monday morning stating that Farahay broke his ankle Sunday and isn’t able to walk. Boger asked that the arraignment be postponed at least 30 days so that Farahay can recover to the point that he can walk.
Common Pleas Judge David Gormley granted the motion to continue and scheduled the arraignment for Feb. 8 at 1:30 p.m.
Farahay was fired as zoning inspector by Orange Township trustees on June 5 after an investigation began. At that time, Farahay had worked for the township for about 15 years.
The charge became official after first assistant county prosecutor Kyle Rohrer filed a bill of information with Delaware County Common Pleas Court last week, alleging that Farahay stole money from the township between Feb. 1, 2012, and March 1, 2015. Rohrer explained that a bill of information was filed because Farahay waived his right to have his case presented to a grand jury.
Delaware County Prosecutor Carol O’Brien said that, while Farahay was the zoning inspector for Orange Township, he accepted cash for sign permits. However, instead of recording the transaction, Farahay destroyed the paperwork and took the money for himself, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors said that if Farahay is convicted, he will be required to repay the money and could receive between six to 12 months in prison, have to pay a fine of up to $2,500 and would be barred from again holding public office in Ohio.
David Hray, a former employee of the Franklin County Economic Development and Planning Department, was hired as the new zoning and planning director in Orange Township on Sept. 14.
Farahay is a former reporter at The Gazette.
