Defense, prosecution appeal Ohio priest's sentence

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Both sides are appealing the sentence given an Ohio Roman Catholic priest in a federal tax fraud case.

The Rev. Samuel Ciccolini, 68, of Akron was ordered in October to pay nearly $3.5 million in restitution to an alcohol and drug rehabilitation center he founded. He also was fined $350,000 fine and was sentenced to one day in prison.

The Akron Beacon Journal reports defense attorneys unhappy with the financial penalty filed an appeal Monday. Federal prosecutors who wanted more prison time for the priest filed their own appeal last week.

Father Ciccolini pleaded guilty in July to a false tax return count and a charge of structuring financial transactions to evade federal reporting requirements.