By MARYSVILLE JOURNAL-TRIBUNE and BELLEFONTAINE EXAMINER STAFFS
MARYSVILLE — The criminal trial against former Union County Humane Agent Steffan Baldwin has reached an official decision.
In the verdict filed Thursday, Jan. 2, Judge Daniel T. Hogan found Baldwin guilty of 32 felony crimes, including one count of bribery, 12 counts of telecommunications fraud, four counts of tampering with records, 11 counts of cruelty to animals, one count of grand theft of a firearm, two counts of grand theft and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
Baldwin was found not guilty of three counts of telecommunications fraud, two counts of tampering with records and two counts of cruelty to animals.
Baldwin, 44, whose court-listed address is 3235 Trout Creek Ct., St. Augustine, Florida, stood trial in January of 2024 where he was accused of 39 total felony counts.
Baldwin opted for a bench trial, meaning there was no jury of his peers and that the judge was tasked with issuing the verdict based on the presented evidence.
In the court documents of the verdict, it was determined that at least 18 dogs were euthanized or died during a three-year period from Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 31, 2016, while under Baldwin’s care.
Baldwin was appointed Union County Humane Agent on Nov. 15, 2012, where he formed the Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACT). ACT was quickly established as a nonprofit corporation through the State of Ohio.
The Union County Probate Court appointed Baldwin as a Humane Agent representing ACT, where he “displayed a badge and had the legal authority of a Humane Agent,” according to court documents.
ACT was operated out of three locations in Union County, a house at 323 S. Main St. in Marysville, a residence on State Route 31 and a farm house at 20365 State Route 739, Richwood.
“Testimony at trial from a number of witnesses clearly showed that Baldwin, from his appointment in 2012 up until early 2015, did good work,” according to court documents. “It is unclear when exactly things started to change, but by early 2015 there was a change.”
Baldwin also previously served as a board member for the Humane Society Serving Logan County and a former director for the Top of Ohio Pet Shelter, which closed in 2016 due to financial constraints. Baldwin helped conduct internal investigations at the Top of Ohio Pet Shelter of two former executive directors accused of impropriety.
Ultimately though, Logan County Commissioners at the time determined the Logan County shelter could not be trusted with additional funding to continue operating because the board, including Baldwin, could not be relied upon to show an accurate accounting of the funding.
The documents state that Baldwin’s focus shifted from being a Humane Agent in a rural setting to concentrating on rescuing and rehabilitating aggressive dogs, where he “recognized he could be successful in the dog rescue world.”
Court documents say that Baldwin formed his personal business, “Save Them Dogs Training,” where he generated a following as well as donations from the national and international rescue community.
“Baldwin’s scheme was to promote himself as a gifted rehabilitator of aggressive dogs and rescue dogs from the shelter euthanasia lists or from cruelty or neglect situations. Then post on social media about the successful rescue of the dog,” according to court documents.
Court documents say that Baldwin would attempt to have the dogs adopted or placed with fosters, but some placements would not work out and they would be returned to ACT.
The documents say that Baldwin had limited space for dogs.
“Through various forms of electronic communications…Baldwin concealed the dogs’ deaths from individuals who inquired about them. He lied about the dogs’ status months and even years after they died. He did this to protect his reputation. He was able to successfully continue “rescuing dogs,” soliciting and receiving donations,” according to court documents.
The verdict said during this time, from Jan. 1, 2014 to Feb. 8, 2017, Baldwin used the ACT financial account as his own, where money was used for his personal expenses and “there was virtually no corporate structure.”
Through a forensic accounting analysis, it was indicated that Baldwin controlled the funds for his personal use.
“What portion was used for the care and maintenance of the dogs is not evidence before this court,” according to court documents.
Of Baldwin’s 11 guilty counts of cruelty to animals, seven counts are labeled as dogs that Baldwin “needlessly killed”, according to court documents.
A date for sentencing will be determined based upon completion of the Pre-sentence Investigation.
Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said that the length of sentence is dependent on the sentences imposed and whether the judge imposes a consecutive or concurrent sentence.
The bench trial in January lasted for three weeks, where it saw 58 witnesses testify and 303 exhibits admitted.
The case was originally filed in June 2020 and took nearly four years to get to trial as attorneys argued the timeline and statute of limitations on misdemeanors, dealt with health issues for witnesses and the defendant, resolved alleged bond violations and a change of defense attorneys midway through the process.
Aug. 4, the case slowed again after Baldwin’s defense counsel learned of a disciplinary action against Detective Jim Conroy of the Campbell Police Department, the lead investigator in the case. Hogan ordered the state to provide additional information about the disciplinary action. On Nov. 27, the trial was reconvened for further examination of Conroy.