Special Audit Details Criminal Case Against Former Woodsfield Utility Office Supervisor, who Was Convicted of Theft in Office

Press Release • Ohio Auditor of State

COLUMBUS - A special audit released Thursday details the criminal investigation into the former utility office supervisor for the Village of Woodsfield in Monroe County, who was convicted of theft in office earlier this year.

The Auditor of State's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) launched an investigation of Claudia Baker after auditors determined she was delinquent in her personal utility payments but had not been assessed late fees or had her utilities disconnected.

The full report on the case is available online at https://ohioauditor.gov/auditsearch/search.aspx.

Baker was hired by the village in July 2009 and served as utility office supervisor until she resigned in April 2023. SIU determined Baker closed two of her personal utility accounts with delinquent balances, fraudulently wrote off balances that were due, blocked late fee assessments, and made other unauthorized adjustments.

Baker was indicted in Monroe County Common Pleas Court in November 2025 and pleaded guilty to a single felony count of theft in office in April 2026.

She was sentenced to community control for three years and ordered to pay restitution and audit costs totaling $15,822.45. She could face 18 months in prison if she violates the terms of her community control. She is also barred from serving in public office.

Since 2019, the Special Investigations Unit has assisted in 166 convictions resulting in more than $17.9 million in restitution (see Map of SIU Convictions since January 2019). The team receives hundreds of tips of suspected fraud annually. Tips can be submitted anonymously online or via SIU's fraud hotline at 866-FRAUD-OH (866-372-8364).

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The Auditor of State's Office, one of five independently elected statewide offices in Ohio, is responsible for auditing more than 5,900 state and local government agencies. Under the direction of Auditor Keith Faber, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies, and promotes transparency in government.