James A. Philomena, the former Mahoning County prosecutor who eventually did prison time, died

James A. Philomena, the former Mahoning County prosecutor who eventually did prison time, died Sunday. Here are some key dates and events in his life, according to The Vindicator’s files:

1974: Passed the bar, joined the law firm of Manos, Flask and Policy, and was named assistant city prosecutor in the criminal branch.

1987: Became Democratic Party candidate for Mahoning County prosecutor.

1988: Testified against a Homestead, Pa., doctor, who was on trial for abortion causing death. Philomena said 21 years ago, as a college student, he helped his 19-year-old girlfriend get an abortion from the doctor, which led to her death. Defeated incumbent Mahoning County Prosecutor Gary Van Brocklin.

1989: Said he would run for the Democratic nomination for Ohio attorney general if the incumbent, Anthony Celebrezze Jr., decided to run for the governor’s post. In the prosecutor’s office, he established a victim/witness program.

1990: Lost bid for the state attorney general job to then-state Sen. Lee I. Fisher. Explosion damaged Philomena’s home, but no one was injured. Pledged to investigate the county courthouse restoration project to determine if state bidding and contract laws were followed.

1992: Said he would run for re-election. Defended his win-loss record, saying court records showed a 60 percent conviction rate in trials from January 1991 to January 1992: Blasted Vindicator reporters for an article suggesting he and other public officials were associated with organized crime.

1994: Robert A. Frank filed suit to oust Philomena, alleging the prosecutor fixed hundreds of drunken-driving cases directly, and indirectly through his assistant prosecutors. A month later, Frank dismissed the suit.

1996: Philomena lost his bid for re-election to Paul Gains.

1997: He left the “hardest job in the courthouse.” Said he was glad his eight-year tenure was ended. Philomena’s name was mentioned in opening statements by an FBI agent, alleging Philomena’s involvement in the failed murder-for-hire of Gains. Gains testified that Philomena had hired people to kill him. However, the FBI agent said there was not enough evidence to charge Philomena.

1999: Denied fixing cases, but said he feared prosecutors would charge him. Pleaded guilty to racketeering charges in the period from 1989 to 1997 when he was in office. Sentenced to four years in prison and sent to a federal prison camp at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

2000: Judge rejected Philomena’s request for treatment of a drug problem in lieu of jail time.

2001: Pleaded guilty to three counts of bribery and one count of perjury in connection with fixing cases while in office.

2003: Request for shock probation was denied.

2005: Released from prison.