(2-6-23) Current Superintendent of Shawnee Schools Jude Meyers (63), pleaded guilty using the Alford Plea today in Gallia County Common Pleas Court to a first degree misdemeanor count of conflict of interest. Meyers was fined $1,000 and was ordered to pay court costs. In exchange for the plea, the State of Ohio agreed to dismiss multiple felony charges.

The felony charges that were dropped –

  • 13 counts – lawful interest in a public contract (4th degree felony)
  • 1 – count count of theft in office (5th degree felony)

The charges came from State Auditor Keith Faber’s office investigation when Meyers was the Superintendent of the Gallia County Schools.

Meyers will be retaining his position at Shawnee.

Shawnee School Board:

We said we would let the judicial system work things out and it did. All the felony charges were dismissed which is not surprising since Jude maintained his innocence all along. We are glad to get this behind us so we can focus completely on the work we are trying to get done at Shawnee. We have a community advisory team that has been working on a facilities plan involving new construction and renovation of our buildings. Shawnee School District will have a public forum this Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at Apollo Career Center when the community advisory team will report its findings.

What is an Alford plea?

An Alford plea, also known as a “best-interests plea,” registers a formal admission of guilt towards charges in criminal court while the defendant simultaneously expresses their innocence toward those same charges.