WARREN Auditor wants record to be expunged

The judge said he would release his decision in the next few days.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The city auditor wants a judge to expunge his criminal record.
David Griffing, city auditor, and his attorney, Sam Bluedorn, asked Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday to expunge Griffing's conviction on two misdemeanors.
The judge said he will review the matter and release a decision in the next few days.
If the judge agrees to expunge Griffing's record, all information related to his convictions would be sealed. Once the record is sealed, no one would be able to find out any information about the matter.
Chuck Morrow, the assistant Trumbull County prosecutor assigned to the case, could not be reached.
Griffing was convicted in June 1999 of a count each of operating a gambling house and gambling. Both charges were misdemeanors.
Background
The charges stemmed from Griffing's job as treasurer of the Elks Lodge, Youngstown Road. Police said there were gambling machines in the club. The gambling machines were confiscated, and several other officials of the club were also charged.
Bluedorn told the judge that his client was a first-time offender, has been rehabilitated and was released from probation early. Griffing was placed on probation for a year. Adult probation officials terminated Griffing's probation after nine months, court records state.
Griffing also is not facing any current criminal proceedings, Bluedorn said.
Acquitted
Griffing was acquitted in October of two misdemeanor counts of dereliction of duty involving money missing from water department funds.
A special prosecutor said during that trial that it is Griffing's duty to supervise and watch the money in the city water department. He was accused of failing to ensure that deposits from there were made in a timely manner.
Bluedorn, who defended Griffing during the trial, said there are other people within the city administration who were in a better position than Griffing to see that deposits were made on time.
sinkovich@vindy.com