Lawyer set to go to trial on felony perjury charges

Sturgeon could face up to five years in prison on each perjury count.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- A Boardman lawyer charged with lying to state disciplinary counsel investigators concerning his alleged sexual misconduct involving former clients faces a criminal trial Oct. 16.
Atty. Edward F. Sturgeon faces trial in Franklin County Common Pleas Court on three counts of felony perjury connected to statements Sturgeon gave to disciplinary counsel investigators Nov. 10, 2004.
Sturgeon, 53, has admitted to two sex-related acts with clients in his private practice.
Before a state disciplinary hearing last year on misconduct allegations, Sturgeon admitted he had sex with one client in March 2003 and exposed himself to another client in June 2003, both at his office in downtown Youngstown.
Sturgeon has denied he wanted a third woman to trade sex for legal fees in March 2004 at her townhouse in Liberty Township.
During the disciplinary hearing, Sturgeon reportedly admitted that he had not been truthful in some of the answers he gave during a deposition with disciplinary counsel investigators.
Other details
Prosecutors say Sturgeon was charged in Franklin County because his interview with the disciplinary counsel took place there. He has pleaded innocent to the charges.
Sturgeon's Columbus attorney, Mark Collins, could not be reached Thursday. A message seeking comment was not immediately returned.
Prosecutors say that if he is convicted, Sturgeon faces maximum sentences of up to five years in state prison on each count and maximum fines of up to $10,000 on each count. The case has been assigned to Judge Julie Lynch.
A state disciplinary board has recommended that Sturgeon's law license be indefinitely suspended because of misconduct allegations filed against Sturgeon in the Ohio Supreme Court. That case remains pending, a court spokesman said.