Teacher's Retirement System Official Admits Ethics Violations

Man Admits Taking Gifts From Brokers

nbc4i.com (Channel 4, Columbus)

POSTED: 12:10 pm EDT June 20, 2006

UPDATED: 12:48 pm EDT June 20, 2006

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A man faced charges Tuesday involving corruption inside an organization meant to protect retirees.

Jack Chapman is the third official at the state teacher's retirement system to face criminal charges for ethics violations.

Chapman, a former board member for the organization, pleaded guilty and learned his punishment, NBC 4's Lauren Crowner reported.

Chapman was accused of accepting hundreds of dollars in free gifts from brokers seeking business from the fund.

"None of the board members at the time understood what they were doing other than what they should be doing," said Ritchey Hollenbaugh, Chapman's attorney.

Chapman was convicted of three misdemeanor counts of conflict of interest for taking theater and sports tickets and a round of golf from pension fund clients.

He's the third STRS official to face ethics violations charges in less than a year.

"When you're a public official, you have to be a little more careful. You have to make sure ... you're giving to the public and not taking from the people that are available to you," said assistant city prosecuting attorney Lara Baker.

A judge sentenced Chapman to three years of probation. He was also required to pay $4,000 in restitution to the Ohio Ethics Commission, perform 60 hours of community service and pay more than $1,000 in fines.

Chapman declined to comment, but his attorney said his client learned his lesson.

Officials at the Ohio Ethics Commission said that Chapman has been and continues to be very cooperative in the ongoing STRS investigation.

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