Investigation clears district employees

HURON — An independent investigation could not substantiate claims of sexual harassment and professional misconduct leveled against various school and city officials representing Huron. Venice Solutions Group, an investigative organization hired by the school district, looked into claims made by Ashli Ford, a local podcaster who spread allegations of wrongdoing conducted by officials in the city and school. Allegations against these individuals, one being former district school resource Officer Keith Lobsinger, were discussed in one of Ford's podcast episodes. Ford is currently on trial for a case in which she pleaded not guilty to mortgage fraud and, in a recent separate Erie County case, was convicted of felony intimidation relating to remarks made online about public officials and sentenced to probation. According to the investigation report, Ford failed to cooperate with investigators who were trying to track down and interview those who filed the complaints. The investigator wrote that Ford did not respond to follow-up requests for that information. Based on the information presented, the investigation cleared everyone of wrongdoing. Lobsinger was asked to interview, but his attorney advised him not to, according to the report. District officials released the report Friday after announcing earlier this week the conclusion of the six-month-long investigation. The district posted the investigation report on the district's board of education page. It is also available on the district's "BoardDoc," the platform the district uses to organize its meetings, agendas and policies. The city of Huron's police department is also conducting its own investigation, according to the investigation report. The status of that probe was not clear as of Friday afternoon.