Paper: Felony charges weighed for ex-Dann aide Gutierrez

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Vanessa Stout

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Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann

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Cindy Stankoski

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Anthony Gutierrez

The two women at the heart of the scandal are still working for the AG’s office.

COLUMBUS DISPATCH

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Ethics Commission has referred possible criminal charges against Anthony Gutierrez, a top administrator for former Attorney General Marc Dann, The Dispatch has learned.

The charges against Gutierrez were referred to Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien. Contacted by WBNS-TV (Channel 10), O’Brien said, “Unless the charges are filed, we would not comment on any referrals made by the ethics commission.”

However, a source confirmed to The Dispatch that referrals, some involving potential felony charges, have been made as part of a multiagency investigation spearheaded by Inspector General Thomas P. Charles that has been under way for the past seven months.

Charles said he could not comment about the investigation. However, he said he hoped it would be wrapped up soon, possibly before the end of the year.

The referrals allegedly relate, in part, to misuse of campaign money funneled to Gutierrez, a close friend from Youngstown and former roommate of the attorney general. Other allegations involved abuse of money from Dann’s nonprofit transition corporation formed after his election and before his taking office in January 2007, and possible improper use of state equipment to help Gutierrez’s Youngstown construction business, sources indicated.

Dann, a former state senator, resigned May 14 after revelations about a sexual-harassment scandal in his office were first published in The Dispatch a month earlier. That scandal, coupled with Dann’s admission of an affair with his office scheduler and other mismanagement problems, resulted in a widespread call for Dann’s resignation by Gov. Ted Strickland and other statewide officials.

Attempts Friday to reach Gutierrez, his attorney, Sam Amendolara, and Dann to comment were unsuccessful.

Gutierrez and another top administrator were fired, and several other employees were forced to resign or did so voluntarily.

Cindy Stankoski and Vanessa Stout, the two attorney general’s office employees who say they were sexually harassed by Gutierrez when he was Dann’s general-services administrator, are still working for Attorney General Nancy H. Rogers, Dann’s replacement. The women tried to mediate their financial claims against the state but were unable to reach agreement.

Rex Elliott, the women’s’ attorney, this week received what is known as a “right to sue” letter from the federal Equal Opportunity Commission. That document clears the way for Elliott to file a lawsuit against the state on behalf of his clients.

State Treasurer Richard Cordray was elected attorney general on Nov. 4 to fill out the remaining two years of the term.