6 of 7 people indicted in Oak Hill probe enter not guilty pleas

YOUNGSTOWN — Lou A. D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court was selected as the judge to oversee the 73-count county corruption case.

But he and the court’s four other criminal common pleas judges are expected later today to recuse themselves and ask the Ohio Supreme Court to assign a visiting judge.

The seven people and three companies indicted in the case were arraigned today by Judge Maureen Sweeney.

None of them showed up as all but one submitted documents that included not guilty pleas to the judge.

The first pretrial hearing is set for Friday with an Oct. 25 trial date.

John Zachariah, the former county Job and Family Services director, is out of the country until the end of the month, and he’ll be arraigned upon his return.

The other six will report Wednesday to the county jail to be fingerprinted and have mug shots taken.

Those six are: county Commissioner John A. McNally IV; county Auditor Michael V. Sciortino; Anthony M. Cafaro Sr., the recently retired president of the Cafaro Co.; Flora Cafaro, part owner of the Cafaro Co.; ex-county Treasurer John Reardon; and Attorney Martin Yavorcik.

Also charged are the Cafaro Co. and two of its subsidiaries: the Ohio Valley Mall and the Marion Plaza.

The charges include engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, conspiracy, perjury, bribery, money laundering, tampering with records, conflict of interest and soliciting or accepting improper compensation.

The indictment accuses the parties of illegally allowing private interests to unsuccessfully block the county’s purchase of Oakhill Renaissance Place.

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