AGENTS PROBING LOSS OF MONEY, GUN, MARIJUANA IN FAIRFIELD SHERIFF'S OFFICE

State agents are poring over hundreds of items in the Fairfield County
sheriff's evidence room, trying to determine how marijuana, money and a gun
disappeared.

The investigation is the latest unwelcome flap at the department, where
Sheriff Gary K. DeMastry continues to serve despite the weight of 323
corruption charges pending against him.

The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation began an audit
of the evidence room last week at the request of Terre L. Vandervoort,
Lancaster city law director.

Vandervoort, whose office handles misdemeanor crimes, said "a small amount''
of marijuana, cash totaling less than $100 and a gun that were being held as
evidence in two cases disappeared between September and March.

She said yesterday that she wrote DeMastry about the missing marijuana on
Sept. 20.

"We had no response,'' Vandervoort said.

On March 2, she recommended an audit to county Prosecutor David Landefeld.
Landefeld then contacted the bureau.

A spokeswoman for the attorney general's office, which oversees the bureau,
said yesterday that investigators would not comment on the case.

Landefeld said the sheriff's department is cooperating with agents.

"I know that BCI has done these audits in other counties,'' he said. "This
is not unique. I'm not saying it's routine, either.''

DeMastry was out of the office yesterday. Capt. John D'Andrea said the
department performs inventories on the evidence room regularly.

"We don't have any idea'' what happened to Vandervoort's evidence, he said.

D'Andrea said it's possible that some of the items were removed and not
returned. "It could be in testing,'' he said of the marijuana.

Generally, evidence is kept until the court makes a final disposition in the
case. "I've never had this happen,'' Vandervoort said.

Tim Schaffer, chairman of the county Republican Party, said community
leaders are tiring of law-enforcement scandals.

DeMastry has pleaded not guilty to 323 charges, including theft in office
and money laundering. His wife and three officers also have been charged in
the 351-count indictment, which involves allegations of use of thousands of
taxpayer dollars for personal travel, dining and entertainment.

And last week, Lancaster Police Chief Richard Schwader resigned rather than
face administrative charges of 53 ethics violations.

Schwader was accused of using police money improperly to keep items such as
paintball guns, a computer, a camera and an M-16 rifle for personal use.

"Frankly, I've had it with some of the ethics being exhibited here,''
Schaffer said. "It's disappointing.''

Schaffer said party officials still want DeMastry, who lost the Republican
primary, to step down. He has said he will serve out his term, which ends
Dec. 31.