Officials investigate Portage County sheriff accused of using inmates at campaign events

PORTAGE COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) – The Secretary of State and Attorney General's offices are investigating after a former Portage County inmate claims he worked at several of Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski's campaign events while incarcerated.

Christopher McCullough served a 90-day sentence for aggravated assault in the Portage County Jail in July 2023.

McCullough said that during his prison sentence, Sheriff Zuchowski allegedly ordered McCullough and three other inmates to put up campaign signs throughout the county.

“We put together this whole fundraiser, but it wasn't a community service, it was strictly for his re-election, it was his re-election fundraiser,” McCullough said.

McCullough also said he organized and served a steak dinner for Sheriff Zuchowski's fundraising campaign and built a building where Zuchowski sold campaign materials.

“Me and about three other guys went in and set up all the tents. We set up the grills with fresh propane, we brought out all the steaks and potatoes, all their food that they wanted to cook for everyone, and filled their coolers with drinks and ice,” McCullough said.

McCullough said he received three dollars a week and cigarettes for his work.

“I fear retaliation from the sheriff for speaking out, but I believe his actions were unlawful,” McCullough said in a letter to the offices of the attorney general and secretary of state.

A former Ohio judge told 19 News that Section 124.57 of the Ohio Revised Code, which prohibits partisan political activity, makes the use of prisoners for campaign events illegal.

“They never informed us that we were doing any kind of personal work for the sheriff,” McCullough said.

19 News met with Sergeant Sonny Jones, deputy jail administrator at the Portage County Jail.

We asked him what his response was to these allegations.

“I would say that's wrong,” said Sergeant Jones. “I've worked steak dinners for the sheriff, and there are never inmates at steak dinners.”

19 News reached out to the Secretary of State's office for comment on the reports. The deputy communications director issued the following statement:

19 News also reached out to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, which released the following statement:

19 News has made multiple attempts to contact Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski for this and several other stories. We have yet to receive a response, but have been told our messages are being forwarded.

These allegations come shortly after Portage County Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski published a controversial social media post in which he said, among other things, that he would “write down all the addresses of the people who [Vice President Kamala Harris’] Signs in their gardens!”

On Friday, the Portage County Election Board voted to strip the Portage County Sheriff's Office of election security responsibility for early voting.

All rights reserved.