Lordstown councilman faces charge of disrupting service

Staff report

LORDSTOWN

Councilman Stanley Zoldan made an initial appearance in Newton Falls Municipal Court on a felony charge of disrupting public services.

He is accused of turning off the power to two wind turbines at the Lordstown Administration Building.

Zoldan, 71, of Brunstetter Road Southwest, was charged by Newton Falls Prosecutor Rick Schwartz after an investigation by the Lordstown Police Department. His hearing was Monday.

Lordstown Police Chief Brent Milhoan said his department investigated at the request of Mayor Michael Chaffee, who advised the department at 1:23 p.m. April 5 that Zoldan had been threatening to turn off the turbines because they had not received a final electrical inspection.

The power switch is on an electrical box on the outside of the administration building and accessible to anyone, though village officials are thinking about changing that now, Milhoan said.

A Lordstown police officer arrested Zoldan on Friday at the administration building and took him to the Trumbull County jail for booking, and he was released after posting $5,000 bond.

Because the charge is a felony, Zoldan was not asked to enter a plea to the charge, court officials said. Zoldan returns to court at 10:30 a.m. April 21 for a preliminary hearing.

Zoldan’s term on council runs through 2013. He is not on the ballot this year.