A Lake Milton man awaiting sentencing for harassment has been fired from his job as a Portage County Jail corrections officer.
“On May 28, 2026, [Austin Paul Wilson, 29] was formally notified that his employment with the agency was terminated effective immediately,” the Portage County Sheriff’s Office stated in a May 29 Facebook post. “While the criminal proceedings remain ongoing and have not yet reached a final disposition, the findings of the administrative investigation clearly warranted termination of employment.”
Wilson was initially charged in late February and at that time, the sheriff’s office placed him on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal case and an internal sheriff’s office investigation.
“Following the completion of the administrative investigation and a pre-disciplinary conference held on May 27, 2026, it was determined that Wilson violated multiple agency policies and standards of conduct,” the Facebook post said. “The investigation substantiated allegations involving Conduct Unbecoming an Officer, along with other departmental policy violations.”
The post says that under a collective bargaining agreement, Wilson has the right to appeal his firing.
An indictment, filed in early March, included charges of third-degree felony extortion and fifth-degree felony non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images. According to court records, the offenses took place at the Portage County Justice Center in Shalersville, which houses the sheriff’s office and jail.
The sheriff’s office previously said the case involved text message communications involving an alleged victim, who has not been identified.
Wilson pleaded guilty to first-degree misdemeanor telecommunications harassment in Portage County Court of Common Pleas in late April. In a plea deal, it was amended down from the fifth-degree felony and the extortion charge was dismissed.
Wilson is scheduled for sentencing on June 16.
Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Portage County Jail officer fired after pleading guilty to harassment
Reporting by Jeff Saunders, Ravenna Record-Courier / Record-Courier
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