Oakhill probe may be extended

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A grand jury probing potential criminal conflicts of interest in the controversy surrounding Mahoning County’s 2006 purchase of Oakhill Renaissance Place may get a second extension.

A judgment entry granting the special prosecutors’ request for a 60-day extension was to be circulated among the county’s common-pleas judges for their signatures today.

Originally convened for four months ending April 30, the grand jury was extended five weeks through today by the county’s common-pleas judges.

Special prosecutors Dennis P. Will and Paul M. Nick asked for the first extension “to allow for continuity in the presentation of evidence to one grand jury.” In that motion, they estimated they’d need no longer than six additional weeks to present their evidence.

Will is the Lorain County prosecutor, and Nick is chief investigative counsel for the Ohio Ethics Commission. So far, Will and Nick have had 10 known meetings with the grand jury.

Only the prosecution presents evidence to the grand jury, whose proceedings are secret.

At the request of Paul J. Gains, Mahoning County prosecutor, the common- pleas judges appointed Will and Nick as special prosecutors for the Oak-hill probe in November 2008. Oakhill is the former Forum Health Southside Medical Center.

Once the grand jury hears all the evidence, it will deliberate on the case. It may indict people on felony charges or misdemeanor charges or decline to indict someone.

Seven of nine grand jurors must agree before an indictment can be issued.