Assistant prosecutor resigns after what judge calls a "lie"

YOUNGSTOWN — An assistant Mahoning County prosecutor who last week provided false information to a common pleas judge to get a trial delay has resigned.

Michael Villani gave two-weeks notice today, Prosecutor Paul J. Gains said. Villani’s resignation is effective March 2.

Gains said Villani’s resignation letter gives no reason for leaving. “I won’t comment further,” the prosecutor said.

Messages seeking comment from Villani, who has been with the office about 10 years, were not returned.

The investigation into Villani’s actions began Monday when the newspaper contacted Robert E. Bush Jr., chief of the prosecutor’s criminal division.

The Vindicator told Bush that it had obtained a dated evidence receipt that shows Villani signed for documents given to him by Ida Hayes’ defense attorney Feb. 5. Hayes’ trial on tampering with records was to begin in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on Feb. 12.

On Feb. 12, Villani asked Judge James C. Evans for a postponement, citing a discovery issue in the Hayes case. The judge quoted Villani as saying in court “they just dropped it on me.” The judge, believing the discovery had just arrived the day of trial, granted the request and reset the trial to June 11.

“That’s what irritates me, that obviously was the lie,” Judge Evans said after learning the documents had arrived Feb. 5.

Evidence receipt