Feb. 20—Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds has been indicted for bribery and different costs associated to making an attempt to assist his household develop land in West Chester Twp., an now he’s combating to maintain his job amid requires him to resign.
Ohio Lawyer Common Dave Yost final week requested the Ohio Supreme Courtroom to start suspension proceedings towards Reynolds as a result of he has been indicted on three felony and two misdemeanor costs. If he’s discovered responsible he faces as much as 7 years in jail and 1000’s of {dollars} in fines.
Throughout an occasion on the College of Dayton Legislation Faculty, Yost stated Reynolds ought to simply resign.
“This is Dave’s rule for politicians: You aren’t getting something out of your official job aside from your paycheck and sense of a job properly carried out serving the general public, that is it,” Yost instructed the Journal-Information.
“You get one thing else, you are skating proper up on the road and doubtless over it. I am afraid that the auditor has compromised the general public belief to the purpose he can not function the watchdog of that county.”
Investigation particulars revealed
Hooked up to the suspension request is an investigation overview from the Butler County Sheriff’s Workplace.
It says builders Brian Jimenez and Tim Haid have written notes and a recording of a cellphone name the place Reynolds allegedly requested for a $200,000 “money fee” to function a “guide and use his political affect to get a TIF, tax increment financing, assigned to an space of Hamilton Mason Highway in Butler County to help within the improvement of properties alongside the highway.”
Jimenez and Haid have been making an attempt to develop a property on Hamilton Mason Highway owned by 88-year-old Gerald Parks — who filed a civil lawsuit towards Reynolds in September — for a senior dwelling neighborhood that may rival a improvement on Reynolds’ dad’s land throughout the road.
A part of the “consulting” deal apparently additionally included the builders paying $500,000 for a 2-acre parcel Reynolds owns — that was valued at $21,000 by his workplace — adjoining to Parks’ property. He allegedly instructed them the property was wanted for inexperienced house. When the builders refused to cope with him, “Reynolds made clear to a consultant of the corporate that he would use his energy to cease the event.”
The AG’s workplace obtained a Third-degree felony indictment for bribery on this situation.
When the Journal-Information requested how it may be bribery since no cash modified fingers, Yost replied:
“The definition of bribery is extra than simply, I hand money to you, however I must not ethically do this case within the courtroom of public opinion, however within the courtroom of regulation,” Yost stated. “So we are going to produce all of the proof; this has been a months lengthy investigation about this, there’s much more to come back out.”
Reynolds’ lawyer issued this assertion after the indictments got here down:
“Mr. Reynolds has by no means solicited, accepted, or paid any bribes, and he has by no means used his place, authority, or affect to improperly profit himself or anybody else. Mr. Reynolds has served the Butler County neighborhood with honor for the previous 19 years, with out even a touch of impropriety,” the assertion reads.
“He’s happy with reforming the Auditor’s workplace, restoring belief with the residents, and combating for truthful property valuations. Mr. Reynolds will vigorously defend himself towards these costs, and appears ahead to persevering with in public service for years to come back.”
Different felony allegations
The opposite felony costs are 4th diploma felonies involving Reynolds allegedly making an attempt to safe $1.1 million in TIF funding for Hamilton Mason Highway enhancements obligatory for the sale of his father’s property for a senior dwelling neighborhood.
The 122-unit senior dwelling improvement known as Purple Oaks obtained zoning approval from the West Chester trustees, however a serious highway enchancment to cope with the slim railroad underpass referred to as a “mousehole” is among the circumstances for it transferring ahead.
In line with e mail information obtained by the Journal-Information, Reynolds requested the county commissioners and trustees from West Chester and Liberty townships to offer tax increment financing {dollars} for the highway enchancment. The emails have both been straight from Reynolds or are conversations concerning the improvement. A few of Reynolds’ emails have been despatched from his county work e mail account that identifies his elected place, and others he despatched others from his private e mail account.
County Administrator Judi Boyko stated she shared the TIF request with the commissioners, however there was no dialogue. Reynolds’ final e mail was despatched on Aug. 27.
“Liberty is two funding sources for his or her share of the highway enchancment. I’ll let you understand as quickly as I’ve affirmation from Liberty that funding has been recognized,” Reynolds wrote. “Hopefully the commissioners will observe go well with and approve funds from the Hamilton Mason rd (Highway) TIF for the instructed enhancements.”
One e mail from county Water and Sewer Director Martha Shelby to Boyko says that Reynolds contacted her and stated the developer was involved about $862,512 in water capability charges, so he wished to discover particular capability charges for “developments focusing on” older residents.
All three Liberty Twp. trustees and West Chester Twp. Trustee Mark Welch instructed the Journal-Information that they had conversations with Reynolds concerning the TIF thought, and sheriff’s officers interviewed them.
West Chester Twp. Trustees Ann Becker and Lee Wong instructed the Journal-Information that they had no communications with Reynolds, however the sheriff’s workplace questioned them.
The sheriff’s report singled out textual content messages concerning the TIF with Liberty Twp. Trustee Steve Schramm. It states when detectives spoke with him “he acknowledged he suggested Roger Reynolds that he felt they have been near crossing a line ‘politically’ that he was not snug with.”
“Since it seems that I’ll be an energetic participant within the prison case with Roger Reynolds, I feel the residents of Liberty are finest served with my silence till this performs out additional,” Schramm instructed the Journal-Information.
Marketing campaign donations questioned
The sheriff’s investigation report referenced a $1,000 donation Reynolds allegedly provided to make to Welch’s re-election marketing campaign. It signifies the 2 males mentioned the TIF proposal. It stated the donation was by no means made.
The report doesn’t point out a $500 donation to Liberty Twp. Trustee Tom Farrell that’s a part of the civil lawsuit filed by Parks.
“I’ve stated all alongside that I did nothing improper with regard to the Hamilton Mason Highway improvement. Yesterday’s submitting by the Ohio Lawyer Common makes it clear that I have been telling the reality,” Farrell instructed the Journal-Information. “I hope the general public hears this message as clearly — and as loudly — as they heard the unsubstantiated allegations.”
The Journal-Information requested Yost why marketing campaign donations have been a part of this investigation, elected officers give money to one another on a regular basis for his or her campaigns, “the query is whether or not the donation is made to obtain one thing, so if politician A provides to politician B as a result of he believes in what politician B believes in then that is completely positive and applicable.”
Welch instructed the Journal-Information he did obtain a $500 donation from Reynolds — after detectives interviewed him — throughout a marketing campaign occasion Oct. 17. It was properly after the event deal — that requires roadwork for ultimate approval — was authorized by the trustees. He stated native politicians routinely give one another contributions; Reynolds, the sheriff and different county officers have donated to him.
“There’s nothing uncommon that political folks help different political folks which can be like-minded, there isn’t any impropriety right here, none,” Welch stated. “It was simply seeking to individuals who had donated prior to now to help me this time, that is all it was, there’s nothing else to learn into something like that. It wasn’t pay to play or something.”
Civil lawsuit bleeds into prison costs
Within the sheriff’s report below the heading “ethics violations” it mentions the very fact Reynolds allegedly instructed Parks he would “land lock him so he couldn’t promote his property” after the aged man refused to promote him 11 acres on the north aspect of Hamilton Mason Highway again in 2015.
The civil lawsuit says Reynolds undervalued the property — providing to purchase it for $475,000 — as a result of he knew Parks was money strapped due his spouse’s most cancers therapies. When he refused, the civil lawsuit stated Reynolds instructed Parks he would “see to it that any proposed improvement of the property would by no means get via planning and zoning.”
The civil go well with says “in retribution” for Parks refusing to promote, Reynolds’ workplace had the agricultural tax break faraway from a few of Parks’ properties inflicting his taxes to extend. The sheriff’s report states after interviewing auditor’s workplace employees “the best way Mr. Parks’ (CAUV) standing was eliminated would have been on the order of Roger Reynolds.”
What occurs subsequent within the circumstances?
Reynolds was speculated to be arraigned in Butler County Frequent Pleas Courtroom final Thursday, however all seven judges recused themselves. The Ohio Supreme Courtroom has appointed a vising decide to deal with the proceedings.
The Ohio Supreme Courtroom notified the Journal-Information Friday retired Franklin County Frequent Pleas Decide Daniel T. Hogan was appointed to preside over the case.
Yost’s Press Secretary Steve Irwin stated Reynolds will not be arrested, he’ll simply seem when the visiting decide units the arraignment.
Reynolds has requested the visiting Decide Dennis Langer within the civil case to pause these proceedings whereas he fights the prison case. Parks’ lawyer replied on Thursday a keep is pointless.
Taxpayers have been footing the authorized invoice to defend Reynolds within the civil lawsuit however is not going to be on the hook for his prison protection. Chief Assistant Prosecutor Dan Ferguson stated the county has a $100,000 deductible and something over that shall be picked up by the insurance coverage firm.
“Intentional acts, which prison circumstances must be, will not be one thing that we defend,” Ferguson stated. “To the extent that there is a civil go well with incurred within the course and scope of his employment because the auditor, the coverage covers that.”
Some officers say Reynolds ought to resign
The auditor is the county’s chief monetary officer and is liable for maintaining the books, valuing actual property and a number of different capabilities.
Ohio Supreme Courtroom Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor inside the subsequent week or so will appoint a panel of three retired judges to resolve whether or not Reynolds must be suspended pending his prison trial. If he’s suspended he’ll proceed to obtain his $108,662 all through the authorized course of. If he’s discovered responsible he should repay his wage.
Aside from the lawyer basic, some county elected officers say Reynolds ought to resign, together with Sheriff Richard Jones, who stated the investigation remains to be ongoing.
“I imagine Mr. Reynolds ought to resign instantly, I do not understand how you keep in workplace with these costs and handle the county’s cash, actual property and what he is accused of, these offers,” Jones stated.
Butler County Commissioner Don Dixon instructed the Journal-Information, “if you put your self earlier than the taxpayers perhaps it is time to get out of workplace” and “if these costs are true, it is corruption at it is worst, and it is disgusting.”
Commissioner T.C. Rogers stated “it is not excellent news when a public official is indicted for a criminal offense, however our justice gives for innocence till confirmed responsible.”
Not the primary time corruption rocks the county
Reynolds, 52, obtained into workplace in 2008 as a result of former county Auditor Kay Rogers, former Commissioner Mike Fox and others went to federal jail for his or her half within the Dynus fiber optics scandal. Rogers resigned after pleading responsible to financial institution and mail fraud, and tax evasion.
Dynus Corp. was contracted by Butler County to function the county’s fiber-optics system, which was constructed to assist spur financial improvement. Rogers was on the core of the scandal, falsifying paperwork that secured loans for Dynus whereas within the title of the county.
In 2013 Reynolds reported his workplace “tripped” upon the very fact two part-time Board of Elections staff have been receiving full-time well being and retirement advantages, as was the board coverage again then. These long-time staff have been Garry Wayne Hicks and Brent Dixon — the commissioner’s son — and so they resigned.
“We nonetheless have a number of folks over on the county which can be hooked on corruption,” Reynolds stated on the time. “And it is disgusting.”
The state Bureau of Felony Investigation discovered there was no prison wrongdoing, however the coverage was not a superb observe.
Previous to the indictment Reynolds stated he is not going to depart workplace and is operating for re-election.
“It is unlucky {that a} native zoning dispute has risen to this stage,” Reynolds stated. “I stay up for answering the accusations and persevering with as auditor. My workforce and I are doing super work within the workplace and we’re not going to be distracted by petty politics.”