TRUMBULL COUNTY Allegations of bribery shock some, not others

The sheriff said he never heard or knew of anyone taking bribes.
By PEGGY SINKOVICHand DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- While many Trumbull County Democrats are surprised about allegations that a salesman had to pay bribes to do business with county government, the chairman of the county Republican party says the news is not shocking.
Craig Bonar, Republican Party chairman, says rumors of people paying to take part in county government contracts have been circulating around the community for years.
"I've heard this over and over, and I've turned stuff over to the FBI," Bonar said, but he declined to give specifics. "So many people have told me so much that I don't think everyone is making it up."
Guilty plea
Barry Bonchak, 61, of Cleveland, pleaded guilty Monday to two misdemeanor counts of bribery and one misdemeanor count of theft. He stated in a two-page affidavit that he paid thousands of dollars yearly in return for getting a chance to do business in Trumbull County.
He also noted that while in Trumbull County, he found that terms such as fund-raiser and golf outing were substitutes for bribery.
Christ Michelakis, chairman of the Trumbull County Democratic Party, said rumors of people paying to sell products in the county started circulating when the probe into county purchasing practices started about two years ago. But he didn't hear from anyone with firsthand knowledge of the dealings.
"Nobody told me that they knew this was going on," said Michelakis, who also is county treasurer.
Since the investigation started, people have been waiting for what would follow.
"I just wish they'd finish it and get it behind us," Michelakis said.
County commissioners James Tsagaris, Joseph Angelo and Dan Polivka could not be reached.
Were surprised
Warren Mayor Michael J. O'Brien, a former county commissioner, and Sheriff Thomas Altiere said the revelations were a surprise.
"Anyone who contributed to fund-raisers I've had paid by check, and I listed them as contributors," O'Brien said. "There's nothing for me to hide. That's all at the board of elections."
Altiere also stressed that as sheriff, he never heard or knew of anyone accepting bribes.
"This was all a big shock," Altiere said.
A Warren official says he's surprised by how wide the involvement reaches.
One official's view
"There seem to be more people involved than meets the eye," said Robert A. Marchese, Warren City Council president. "I've always marveled at how county people are able to sell so many tickets to their fund-raisers, but that's coming from someone at my level."
People running for county offices have a wider pool from which to draw than those running for city positions, he said.
"I just assumed everyone was following the election laws on how you could sell them," Marchese said.
The Vindicator began running stories about excessive prices for cleaning supplies and shoddy bookkeeping in the maintenance department in August 2002. Shortly after the stories were published, county Prosecutor Dennis Watkins launched an investigation and asked the state Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation and the state auditor's office for assistance.
Since the investigation began, Tony Delmont, the former maintenance department director, his wife, Karen, and several vendors have been indicted.
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