FAIRFIELD COUNTY
Divorce papers served on ex-sheriff in prison
Monday, March 08, 2004
Mary Beth Lane
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Penny M. DeMastry is divorcing former Fairfield County Sheriff Gary K. DeMastry. She had served as his bookkeeper.
Penny M. DeMastry stood by her man through 26 years of marriage and his imprisonment for public corruption.
Now she is divorcing former Fairfield County Sheriff Gary K. DeMastry.
Mrs. DeMastry, 46, filed for divorce on Feb. 27, records show. Her husband was served with the papers the same day at the Hocking Correctional Facility near Nelsonville.
Mrs. DeMastry, who included with her filing an affidavit saying she is indigent, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Her father-in-law, Leo J. De-Mastry, a former Fairfield County commissioner, said he didn?’t know her whereabouts. He declined to comment on the divorce filing.
The former sheriff, 48, is serving a six-year prison sentence. A Fairfield County jury convicted him of 32 crimes, including theft in office, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and obstruction of justice, in 2001. To avoid a second trial, he pleaded guilty to five more crimes in 2002.
Mrs. DeMastry, formerly the bookkeeper at the sheriff?’s office, pleaded guilty to five felonies and was released on shock probation in 2002 after serving 39 days of a 2?½-year sentence. Visiting Judge Richard M. Markus ended her probation in September.
The convictions of Gary De-Mastry, a Republican who once was a top vote-getter in Fairfield County, followed his indictment in 2000 on 343 charges related to public money misspent on meals, travel and entertainment.
The criminal case at an end, he now faces a civil case.
Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro?’s money-recovery lawsuit against Gary, Penny and Leo DeMastry and 10 former deputies is scheduled for trial in July. Petro is seeking repayment of $213,860 in unlawful or undocumented spending uncovered by three state audits.
From the archive
Wife of former Fairfield County sheriff taken off probation after 1 1/2 years (Sept. 24, 2003)
State tells DeMastry, 99 others to pay up
Imprisoned ex-sheriff among those being sued for restitution (June 17, 2003)
OSU Football Tickets: 'Exchange' is trouble for guard, DeMastry (Nov. 22, 2002)
Former deputy won't be charged
Fairfield County lawman gave special treatment to DeMastry during trip (Oct. 23, 2002)
DeMastry pleads guilty to theft charges (Oct. 18, 2002)
DeMastry road trip cost deputy his job
Ex-sheriff treated to a meal, swung by home on way to jail
Also: Mrs. DeMastry stands by her man during second trial (Oct. 16, 2002)
Felony convictions bar prison visits between DeMastrys (April 20, 2002)
Ex-sheriff to be jailed with older prisoners
Former Fairfield County Sheriff Gary DeMastry will serve his six-year prison sentence in an Athens County institution reserved for elderly inmates and former lawmen. (Feb. 27, 2002)
Six-year sentence for DeMastry; 2 1/2 years for wife
Former Fairfield County sheriff headed to federal prison (Jan. 19, 2002)
DeMastry guilty
Ex-sheriff convicted on 32 counts; wife accepts deal (Dec. 12, 2001)
mlane@dispatch.com
http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2004/03/08/20040308-B3-02.html
Divorce papers served on ex-sheriff in prison
Monday, March 08, 2004
Mary Beth Lane
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Penny M. DeMastry is divorcing former Fairfield County Sheriff Gary K. DeMastry. She had served as his bookkeeper.
Penny M. DeMastry stood by her man through 26 years of marriage and his imprisonment for public corruption.
Now she is divorcing former Fairfield County Sheriff Gary K. DeMastry.
Mrs. DeMastry, 46, filed for divorce on Feb. 27, records show. Her husband was served with the papers the same day at the Hocking Correctional Facility near Nelsonville.
Mrs. DeMastry, who included with her filing an affidavit saying she is indigent, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Her father-in-law, Leo J. De-Mastry, a former Fairfield County commissioner, said he didn?’t know her whereabouts. He declined to comment on the divorce filing.
The former sheriff, 48, is serving a six-year prison sentence. A Fairfield County jury convicted him of 32 crimes, including theft in office, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and obstruction of justice, in 2001. To avoid a second trial, he pleaded guilty to five more crimes in 2002.
Mrs. DeMastry, formerly the bookkeeper at the sheriff?’s office, pleaded guilty to five felonies and was released on shock probation in 2002 after serving 39 days of a 2?½-year sentence. Visiting Judge Richard M. Markus ended her probation in September.
The convictions of Gary De-Mastry, a Republican who once was a top vote-getter in Fairfield County, followed his indictment in 2000 on 343 charges related to public money misspent on meals, travel and entertainment.
The criminal case at an end, he now faces a civil case.
Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro?’s money-recovery lawsuit against Gary, Penny and Leo DeMastry and 10 former deputies is scheduled for trial in July. Petro is seeking repayment of $213,860 in unlawful or undocumented spending uncovered by three state audits.
From the archive
Wife of former Fairfield County sheriff taken off probation after 1 1/2 years (Sept. 24, 2003)
State tells DeMastry, 99 others to pay up
Imprisoned ex-sheriff among those being sued for restitution (June 17, 2003)
OSU Football Tickets: 'Exchange' is trouble for guard, DeMastry (Nov. 22, 2002)
Former deputy won't be charged
Fairfield County lawman gave special treatment to DeMastry during trip (Oct. 23, 2002)
DeMastry pleads guilty to theft charges (Oct. 18, 2002)
DeMastry road trip cost deputy his job
Ex-sheriff treated to a meal, swung by home on way to jail
Also: Mrs. DeMastry stands by her man during second trial (Oct. 16, 2002)
Felony convictions bar prison visits between DeMastrys (April 20, 2002)
Ex-sheriff to be jailed with older prisoners
Former Fairfield County Sheriff Gary DeMastry will serve his six-year prison sentence in an Athens County institution reserved for elderly inmates and former lawmen. (Feb. 27, 2002)
Six-year sentence for DeMastry; 2 1/2 years for wife
Former Fairfield County sheriff headed to federal prison (Jan. 19, 2002)
DeMastry guilty
Ex-sheriff convicted on 32 counts; wife accepts deal (Dec. 12, 2001)
mlane@dispatch.com
http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2004/03/08/20040308-B3-02.html
