Ohio sheriff pleads guilty to drug charges, theft in office

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FREMONT, Ohio (AP) — A suspended Ohio sheriff has pleaded guilty to stealing prescription drugs and other drug-related charges and will be stripped of his badge.

Sandusky County Sheriff Kyle Overmyer agreed to a plea deal Tuesday after denying the charges for months and saying the investigation against him was politically motivated.

He pleaded guilty to 13 felony counts including theft of dangerous drugs and theft in office. He also pleaded guilty to filing false financial statements.

A special prosecutor accused the two-term sheriff of stealing medications from drug disposal boxes and deceiving doctors into giving him painkillers.

Overmyer had kept his title while he was suspended and in jail but lost his re-election bid this month. The 42-year-old faces a maximum of just over 14 years in prison when he's sentenced next month.