SALEM SCHOOLS Cougras gets term in prison

The judge said the 'fox was watching the hen house.'
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- The scope of prosecutors' investigation that began days before former Salem Schools Treasurer Ted Cougras resigned his $72,237-a-year job will be evident before month's end, Columbiana County Prosecutor Robert Herron said.
"We are very actively involved in continuing this investigation, and I anticipate that will be very obvious in the near future," Herron said. "There will be more charges coming against others, all stemming from this investigation."
Herron said that even after more of the investigation is made public in the next two weeks, the probe won't be finished.
Judge C. Ashley Pike of the Columbiana County Court of Common Pleas sentenced Cougras on Monday to three years in prison for 17 felony counts, including eight each of bribery and money laundering, and one count of theft in office.
Cougras must also repay the Salem City Schools $13,794, an amount agreed upon in the plea agreement.
The sentences were three years for eight counts of bribery, three years for eight counts of money laundering, and one year for one count of theft in office, to be served concurrently.
Supporters in court
Cries of "We love you, Teddy!" echoed through the packed courtroom as deputy sheriffs handcuffed Cougras and led him out of the courtroom. Cougras had been free on bond.
Cougras' attorney, John B. Juhasz, said he didn't agree with Herron's claims that Cougras showed no remorse or that he was uncooperative during the investigation.
Juhasz asked for a combination of community sanctions and fines, stating that a prison sentence wasn't the only way to show the seriousness of crimes by public officials.
Before sentencing, Cougras said he knew he was there "to receive the punishment due me," and apologized to Salem City Schools and his family.
Several women began weeping openly as soon as Cougras began speaking.
Cougras' voice cracked as he spoke of the hurt he caused his family.
"I accept full responsibility for my actions," Cougras said. "They were my decisions. What I did was wrong and what I didn't realize was the serious impact these actions would have on my wife, daughter, and the community as a whole.
"I can never do again what I love to do -- serve the public," Cougras said. "I have been humiliated, but that's nothing compared to the pain I have caused ..."
Lawyer's portrayal
Juhasz said Cougras showed immediate remorse and a desire to warn others about the consequences of such actions, and that could best be accomplished by Cougras outside of prison.
Cougras said he wanted to be a benefit rather than a burden to society and wanted to show how "doing stupid and selfish things" ruin not only one's own life, but "the lives of those who love you more than you love yourself."
Judge Pike, however, said the sentencings in ongoing Mahoning County probes of government officials in recent years show what the penalties should be when public officials violate the public's trust.
He said the public put its trust in Cougras and Cougras misused that trust for his own purposes.
"We've come to find out the fox was watching the hen house," Judge Pike said.
Judge Pike said Cougras' actions damaged the reputation of the Salem school district and for years to come may inhibit the ability of the district to pass levies.
The prosecutor's probe began three days before Cougras resigned as treasurer, Dec. 16, 2002. He had been hired in September 1997.
The investigation determined that between December 2000 and December 2002, Cougras accepted from a salesman representing two different companies $8,450 and $50 in gift certificates. In exchange, Cougras bought an estimated $276,929 in supplies for the school district from the two companies the salesman represented.