Ohio postal worker indicted on mail theft charge

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A U.S. Postal Service worker has been indicted on charges accusing him of stealing cash and gift cards from mail at a central Ohio processing center and assaulting officers.

Federal authorities say Postal Service agents saw Terrence McLean open envelopes and remove the contents while sorting mail in June at the Columbus center and put mail in his sock and down his pants.

Agents say McLean punched and bit them when they arrested him.

The 37-year-old McLean was indicted Tuesday in Columbus on 71 counts of mail theft, 12 counts of receiving stolen mail and two counts of assaulting a federal officer.

Defense attorney Lewis Dye says McLean will plead not guilty.

Investigators say they recovered 71 first-class letters, 20 gift cards and $341 in cash when searching McLean.