Gutierrez trial is set for Aug. 17 in Columbus

The Liberty Township man could face up to eight years in prison if convicted.

Staff/wire report

COLUMBUS — Anthony Gutierrez, a central character in the former Attorney General Marc Dann administration scandal, is scheduled for trial Aug. 17 on criminal charges before Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Laurel Beatty.

Gutierrez, 51, of Liberty Township, faces six felony and four misdemeanor charges alleging he ran his private construction company on state time, filed fraudulent workers’ compensation paperwork, and illegally converted campaign money for personal use.

Judge Beatty, who was appointed to the bench by Gov. Ted Strickland, is the step-daughter of former House Minority Leader Joyce Beatty, who was among those who called for Dann’s resignation a year ago.

In February 2007, then-Attorney General Dann hired Gutierrez, his friend and neighbor, to run the mailroom, purchasing, maintenance and vehicle operations for the attorney general’s office. Dann, Gutierrez and Leo Jennings III, another Dann friend and top aide, shared a condo in suburban Columbus rented by Dann for the Ohio campaign.

A year later, two female junior staff members accused Gutierrez of sexual harassment, including for behavior at the apartment. In January, the state agreed to pay the two a combined $495,000 to settle the case.

The charges against Gutierrez include two counts of unauthorized use of property, two counts of receiving improper compensation, single counts of theft in office, prohibited election activities and filing a false financial disclosure statement, and three counts of workers’ compensation fraud. He faces up to eight years in prison and $20,000 in fines if convicted on all charges.

Dann has maintained he did nothing illegal.

XContributor: Dayton Daily News