OAKHILL UPDATE | Judge won’t release more documents

YOUNGSTOWN

A visiting judge has refused to publicly release more bills of particulars concerning the Oakhill Renaissance Place criminal conspiracy case.

Although he has unsealed other documents in response to a motion by Vindicator lawyers, Judge William H. Wolff Jr. of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court noted in today’s order that the bills of particulars contain information that may not be admissible in the trial.

“Taking into account the Vindicator’s intense, tough coverage of this case, the court concludes that publication of these documents would result in a substantial probability that seating an impartial jury in Mahoning County would be impossible,” the judge ruled.

Judge Wolff also said the problem is compounded by the estimated two to three month length of the trial, which is set to begin June 6, 2011.

Bills of particulars have been filed under seal for three defendants: John B. Reardon, former county treasurer; Michael V. Sciortino, county auditor; and John Zachariah, former county Job and Family Services director.

Bills have not yet been filed for other defendants charged with conspiracy to impede the move of JFS from Cafaro Co.-owned rented quarters to Oakhill Renaissance Place. The county bought Oakhill in 2006 and moved JFS there in 2007.

Prosecutors earlier publicly filed bills detailing their case against Flora Cafaro, part-owner of the Cafaro Co. and Atty. Martin Yavorcik, who are charged only with one count of money laundering.