ASHLAND — Last fall, the Ashland Police Division used a city credit card to purchase a replacement ring for Kyle Wharton, a convicted sex offender, after an officer accidentally destroyed the original ring, according to city credit card records reviewed by Ashland Source.
After Wharton was convicted of multiple felony sex offenses involving minors in November 2020, his family requested his property that was taken when he was originally arrested, Ashland Police Capt. Craig Kiley said.
But Wharton's class ring from Big Walnut High School in Sunbury — originally bought by his mother — was accidentally included in an evidence disposition dumpster that had its contents compacted by a trash truck.
"That bag (of Wharton's belongings) was marked to be retained and it was accidentally destroyed," Kiley said.
So on Sept. 26, 2022, APD Administrative Assistant Angel Roley used a city credit card to purchase a replacement ring for $1,259.38, the city's credit card records show.
"It was the right thing to do that we should replace property when it's accidentally destroyed. It's unfortunate but accidents like that do happen," Kiley said.
The 10-karat gold ring, adorned with a garnet and engraved with Wharton's name, was ordered from Jostens, an American company that produces memorabilia for colleges and high schools.
The ring accident is the first time Kiley said he's heard of the police division accidentally destroying someone's property.
"We have safeguards involved for this kind of thing," he said.
Wharton is currently serving a three-year sentence at the Madison Correctional Institution in London, Ohio.
