LISBON — Former East Liverpool City Health District food service inspector Alan Masters entered not guilty pleas Thursday to 23 counts of tampering with records, a third-degree felony charge.

Masters, 64, West Eighth Street, Salem, was accompanied by his hired attorney, Bruce Williams, for arraignment before Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam.

The case has been assigned to Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton.

His bond was continued.

The indictment against Masters alleges that he falsified food inspection reports over a nearly one-year period, with all 23 incidents allegedly occurring from May 31, 2024 through April 25, 2025.

Masters previously worked as the environmental director for the Salem City Health District for several years, resigning Aug. 4, 2025. He was doing some work for the East Liverpool City Health District while still working for the Salem City Health District.

Columbiana County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Weikart previously said that Masters allegedly turned in reports for inspections he never did and at least five were allegedly done before he worked for East Liverpool and no longer works there now. Apparently, he had been suspended at the Salem City Health District prior to resigning. In his letter of resignation, he reportedly wrote that his resignation did not constitute an admission of any wrongdoing. The Salem City Health District Board voted in July 2025 to institute an investigation into an employee’s activity, but did not name the employee.