The former Sylvania Township police lieutenant charged with fifth-degree grand theft has agreed to pay restitution to the township.

On Wednesday, Robert Austin pleaded guilty to an amended charge and agreed to pay $69,698.48 in restitution, according to the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office. As part of the plea, the State of Ohio agreed to dismiss earlier charges.

While still legally married to his first spouse, Austin claimed his second spouse on his Sylvania Township-sponsored benefits plan from 2016 to mid-2023. Sylvania Township would not have provided the benefits had it known Austin remained married to someone else, officials said.

Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates said in a statement Wednesday that the state of Ohio would not tolerate theft while a person holds an office.

“We a

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