Ohio woman facing destruction of records charges
An Ohio woman was taken to Warren County Jail after allegedly ripping pages out of a book of original documents at the courthouse and trying to leave the office with them.
Shawanda M. Brofford, 38, of Laurelville, Ohio, is charged with fraudulent destruction of records, tampering with records, institutional vandalism, and disorderly conduct.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Warren County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the Register and Recorder’s office at about 10 a.m. Thursday.
Several deputies responded. When they arrived, a woman — Brofford — was being asked to return documents, according to the affidavit.
“The female had been extremely disrespectful… and had taken several original documents out of a deed book and shoved them in her coat and purse,” according to the affidavit. “When asked to return the documents, she attempted to leave.”
According to the affidavit, Brofford had removed and damaged pages 1 through 28 and 551 and 552 from the same book.
Asked about the nature of the pages, Register and Recorder Lisa Burkhouse said they were “assorted land records.”
Whether Brofford had any connection to the information contained within the records in question was not released Thursday.
Brofford was arraigned Thursday before District Judge Raymond Zydonik and taken to Warren County jail after failing to post $20,000.
A preliminary hearing is set for 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7.