For one Ohio man, the heat got too hot to handle.
The chief of the Bokecreek Fire Department in Logan County paid more than $25,000 in restitution to the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) recently after pleading guilty to workers comp fraud.
Donald Detrick appeared in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas on Oct. 27 following a BWC investigation that found he worked three jobs while collecting workers comp benefits.
“BWC’s goal is to assist injured workers so they can recover and return to their jobs as quickly as possible,” said BWC Administrator/CEO Steve Buehrer. “The type of benefit Mr. Detrick was receiving is reserved for those whose injuries prevent them from returning to work. That’s why the money he has returned will be put back into our fund and be used to provide compensation and medical care to truly injured workers.”
BWC’s Special Investigations Department opened an investigation after receiving an allegation that Detrick, of West Mansfield, may be working while receiving benefits for a workplace injury.
The investigation revealed that Detrick worked as the fire chief for Bokecreek Township in Logan County, fire safety coordinator for York Township in Logan County and as a certified water inspector for Midwest Express while collecting temporary total disability benefits.
Prior to the plea, Detrick paid $25,586.40 to the Clerk of Courts in order to pay in full his restitution of $22,155.04 and investigative costs of $3,431.36.
A judge sentenced him to community control for six months under the condition that he pay the restitution and investigative costs, have no new convictions, and pay all court costs. He will serve six months in jail if he does not meet these terms.
Author Kori Shafer-Stack, Editor, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in post-injury response procedures and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: kstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
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