CAMBRIDGE, Ohio (AVC News) — The former executive director of the Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center is facing felony charges after an extensive investigation revealed more than $32,000 in senior center funds were misappropriated over a 10-year period.
Shon Gress, 58, has been charged on a Bill of Information in Guernsey County Common Pleas Court with fourth-degree felony grand theft and third-degree felony tampering with evidence.
According to court filings and law enforcement officials, the case began in January 2026 when board members and representatives of the Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center discovered financial discrepancies during an internal review and immediately reported them to the Cambridge Police Department.
Detective David Ryan led the multi-month investigation, sifting through a massive volume of financial records, receipts, digital purchasing histories, and electronic documentation. Investigators also executed a search warrant as part of efforts to trace the organization’s funds.
The investigation ultimately determined that $32,265.65 belonging to the senior citizens center had been diverted for unauthorized personal use between Jan. 1, 2016, and Feb. 12, 2026. The tampering charge stems from allegations that Gress altered, concealed, or destroyed documents and records between Jan. 1, 2026, and Feb. 12, 2026, to impair their availability as evidence.
“The citizens of Guernsey County deserve to know that we made every effort to identify and account for the funds involved, down to the penny,” Detective Ryan said, thanking center employees and police department personnel for assisting with the extensive audit and search warrant execution.
Cambridge Police Chief Dave Peoples commended Detective Ryan’s thoroughness and thanked the senior center’s board for their full cooperation, which officials noted significantly accelerated the financial review.
“Without their good work, Detective Ryan would still be waiting for subpoenas to be fulfilled from several financial institutions, local businesses, and online retailers,” said Guernsey County Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey K. Donehue-Angler. “Because of the assistance of these particular people, our community won’t have to wait much longer for accountability.”
Court documents show that a proposed plea resolution has already been reached in the case.
According to a letter from Prosecutor Donehue-Angler’s office, Gress is expected to plead guilty to the fourth-degree felony theft charge and enter an Alford plea to the third-degree felony tampering with evidence charge. An Alford plea allows a defendant to maintain innocence while acknowledging that sufficient evidence exists for a conviction.
Under the terms of the proposed agreement:
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Gress must pay the full $32,265.65 in restitution to the Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center within 48 hours of his sentencing hearing.
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The prosecution will limit its sentencing request to local incarceration rather than state prison time.
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The prosecutor’s office will bring no further criminal charges against Gress regarding the Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center.
The agreement has been approved by law enforcement, and the victim organization was consulted regarding sentencing requests.
Gress is scheduled to appear in Guernsey County Common Pleas Court in Cambridge on Oct. 23, 2026, for a plea hearing. A pre-sentence investigation will be conducted prior to final sentencing.
Last Updated on September 3, 2026 by AVC News
