The former housing inspector for the city of Ashtabula is facing more felony charges.
On Tuesday, John Artuso was indicted on felony charges of theft in office and grand theft. The charges stem from Artuso's involvement in the theft of money from a vacant house on West Avenue last December.
As WKYC's Andrew Horansky reported at the time, Artuso gave permission to then-councilman Reginald Holman to retrieve items from the house, located across from Holman's family salon, that could be donated for charity. When Holman sent high school friend Harrison Brown into the house, he allegedly found $260,000 stashed behind a fridge.
According to an affidavit, Brown kept some of the money and shared some of it with a friend named Jashon Hunt. Hunt allegedly claimed he later witnessed Holman and Artuso also sharing the cash.
The charges filed against Artuso alleges that he "removed a significant sum of money from the residence and allowed others to take and/or receive money and other property therefrom while he was working as housing inspector and preparing the property for a potential demolition."
The indictment alleges that the amount of money stolen is in excess of $7,500 but less than $150,000.
When WKYC's story aired in December, a viewer came forward with information that she had been raped by Artuso. On February 1 of this year, he charged with rape and kidnapping, two first-degree felonies as well as sexual battery, a third-degree felony. He later entered a plea of not guilty.
Holman was indicted earlier this week on a felony charge of false voter registration.