CLEVELAND — A former top Cuyahoga County administrator cut a deal with prosecutors, pleading guilty to two counts of obstructing official business charges today, more than 17 months after he was charged in the first round of indictments in the on-going county corruption probe.
Prosecutors said Dykes used his position as head of HR for the county to convert improper moving expenses for a former county employee into a $15,000 "signing bonus." Investigators said Dykes asked for, but did not receive authorization to change the improper payment into a bonus, then lied about it to a county employee.
Douglas Dykes resigned as the county's chief talent officer last January following allegations of witness intimidation and retaliation, and claims by prosecutors that Dykes tried to manipulate the case against him by repaying an illegal bonus paid to a former employee. In his resignation letter, the 55-year-old Dykes denied any wrongdoing. Instead, he wrote his resignation after four years leading Cuyahoga County's human resources department was to "ensure the sanity and health of my family and my family must come first at this point."
Today, in court, Dykes defended his actions.
"I didn't think I did anything wrong," said Dykes, "but after extensive conversations with my attorney, I understand I made a mistake and that's why I'm pleading guilty."
In January 2019 a Grand Jury indicted Dykes on charges of theft in office, tampering with records, obstructing official business and falsification. Prosecutors agreed to drop the most-serious charges against Dykes as part of the plea deal.
In December 2018, the Ohio Auditor's Office found Cuyahoga County improperly paid nearly $63,000 in "unauthorized hiring incentives" to eight workers during 2017. At the time, Auditor Dave Yost said Dykes and the county introduced new hiring incentives, including signing bonuses and advanced paid leave, but auditors found those policies invalid since they hadn't been approved by Cuyahoga County Council. At the time, Yost said all of the workers either returned the money or were in the process of repaying the county.
As part of Thursday's plea deal, Dykes agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in other cases involving county officials.
"As part of this plea, it's our understanding that Mr. Dykes will testify truthfully in any upcoming hearings and trials that will take place with regard to the special prosecutors investigation and prosecution of corruption offenses within Cuyahoga County," said Special Prosecutor Matthew Meyer.
Dykes was sentenced to two years of probation.
Court records show he has already been added to the witness list for the upcoming trial of former county jail director Ken Millls. Mills faces a series of charges stemming from deaths and other problems inside the jail.
