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Executive Ethics Board accepts multiple stipulated settlements, imposes civil penalties
Summary
The board accepted stipulations and settlements for multiple cases, approving penalties including $500 ($250 suspended) for Shelley O'Neil (2024-032), $4,500 for Shar Yates (2024-054), a revised $4,000 order for Michelle Meares (2025-019) with $750 suspended if conditions are met, and $4,500 for Corey King (2025-030). Several reasonable-cause findings and dismissals were also recorded.
The Executive Ethics Board on Jan. 9 approved several stipulated settlements and final orders resolving enforcement matters dating from 2023–2025.
Board staff presented the stipulation for Shelley O’Neil (case 2024-032), in which staff alleged an unauthorized disclosure of another employee’s private medical information in November 2024. Board staff said a negotiated settlement reached on Jan. 6, 2026, set a civil penalty of $500 with $250 suspended. "Following this event, the DOC employee who overheard the conversation reported to their supervisor," staff said when summarizing the investigative findings.
The board also accepted a stipulated civil penalty of $4,500 for Shar Yates (case 2024-054), reflecting staff findings that Yates live-streamed during work hours, referenced their state position, and at times exposed confidential information. Board staff reported the settlement amount was agreed on Nov. 28, 2025.
For Michelle Meares (case 2025-019), staff reported an allegation that Meares used a subordinate’s home address to avoid paying vehicle taxes totaling about $1,110 over three years. The board accepted a revised order imposing a $4,000 penalty with $750 suspended contingent on compliance with stipulations and terms of the proposal.
Staff summarized an investigation of Corey King (case 2025-030) alleging use of state resources for nonwork purposes, including accessing adult websites on state equipment. The board accepted a stipulation resolving the matter with a $4,500 settlement reached Dec. 15, 2025.
After closed-session deliberations, the board recorded a series of reasonable-cause determinations, dismissals, and a default/final order imposing a $500 civil penalty in the Bridget Mineward matter. The board also noted that the case of Patrick DeFo was not defaulted and a final order will follow.
All stipulations and orders were adopted by motion and voice vote as recorded on the meeting’s public record. Where recusal or abstention was noted in the transcript, staff recorded those recusals for the official minutes.
The board did not reopen adjudicated facts when it approved the stipulated settlements; staff cautioned that changing facts in a negotiated stipulation would generally require returning to the respondent to renegotiate terms.
