Change of plea hearing scheduled for board of elections member in sales tax case
NEW PHILADELPHIA ‒ A change of plea hearing has been scheduled for 1 p.m. April 29 in New Philadelphia Municipal Court for a member of the Tuscarawas County Board of Elections who has been charged with failure to pay sales taxes related to his business in Sugarcreek.
Jeremiah M. Johnson of Sugarcreek faces six counts of failure to file sales tax returns and four counts of failure to remit, related to employee compensation. The charges allege he failed to file sales tax returns for November and December 2022 and May, June, October and November 2023. He is also accused of failing to file and remit quarterly employer withheld tax returns for the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first, second and third quarters of 2023.
All are unclassified misdemeanors. The charges were filed by the Ohio Department of Taxation on Jan. 12.
Each charge is punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and up to 500 hours of community service.
He appeared before Magistrate Michael Daily in New Philadelphia Municipal Court in January, where he entered a not guilty plea. He was released on his own recognizance.
He has been a member of the Tuscarawas County Board of Elections since 2019. Members of the board of elections are paid $10,569 annually, according to county Auditor Larry Lindberg. Board members are considered public employees and are covered under the Public Employees Retirement System. Board members also receive medical insurance coverage.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Board of elections member has April 29 court date in sales tax case
