Ex-State of Ohio employee accused of GED tampering

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A former Ohio Education Department employee has been charged with tampering with records and forgery involving high school diploma equivalency certifications in Ohio.

The Ohio inspector general's office said Thursday that 41-year-old Kathleen Garner of Columbus was indicted last week in Franklin County on two counts of tampering with records and one forgery count. The state says she resigned from the education department in August.

The inspector general began the investigation in April after Education Department officials said Garner was suspected of issuing GED diploma certifications without necessary backup documentation. Authorities say she allegedly issued questionable GEDs to her husband and other people including family members and friends.

Court records don't list an attorney for Garner. A message was left at a residential listing for her Thursday.