In April NEWS9 gave you a first look at an audit of the former Jefferson County Children's Services Department. The audit was done by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, which says it found enough questionable matter in its study to send the issue to the State Auditor's office.

The County Commission did its own audit during the Spring, after the agency merged with the Department of Job and Family Services. Commissioner Tom Graham tells NEWS9 the audit showed things even the Commission was unaware of... a number of what he calls "irregularities"-- duplicate invoices paid, documentation failures for certain purchases and continuing to pay foster care contracts, when no valid contracts were in place for some cases.

With the State Auditor now involved, criminal charges are possible, though far from a certainty. The question is, what happened and who was involved, and Graham says the inquiry will begin with the former leadership at Children's Services, people with whom Commissioners haven't spoken since their resignation. "This will be part of the investigation, how the director or perhaps others spent money, and whether it was done appropriately or not," says Graham, who won't speculate on what the Auditor will do, but says the matter is now out of the County's hands. Whatever is to happen is up to the State leaders. Stick with NEWS9 for continuing coverage.

--Rick Terry, NEWS9