Special prosecutors sought to investigate Oakhill purchase

YOUNGSTOWN — Special prosecutors are being sought to investigate possible ethics violations related to Mahoning County’s purchase of Oakhill Renaissance Place.

Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul J. Gains has asked the common pleas judges to appoint four special prosecutors to do the job.

Gains made his request in a court filing today. Having special prosecutors independent of Gains’ office “will avoid any appearance of impropriety,” the prosecutor wrote.

“A special prosecutor, acting independently, cannot be accused of engaging in a vengeful prosecution, or, conversely, of favorable treatment,” the filing says.

County commissioners bought Oakhill in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in summer 2006. Oakhill is the former Forum Health Southside Medical Center.

Gains has asked the judges to appoint Dennis Patrick Will, prosecutor; and Anthony Dean Cillo and Billie Jo Belcher, assistant prosecutors, all from the Lorain County prosecutor’s office; and Paul M. Nick, chief investigative counsel with the Ohio Ethics Commission, as the special prosecutors.

All will be paid their salaries by their regular employers, and they will derive no extra compensation for their work as special prosecutors here; but Mahoning County will reimburse them for “any reasonable expenses and mileage incurred” and any clerical support expenses required for the probe.

For the complete story, see Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.