Judge rules Oakhill conspiracy defendant won't get Mahoning County-paid lawyer

YOUNGSTOWN — As things stand now, the defense lawyer for John Zachariah in the Oakhill Renaissance Place criminal conspiracy case won’t be paid from Mahoning County funds, a judge has ruled.

Assuming he has the authority to appoint Zachariah’s present lawyer at county expense, visiting Judge William H. Wolff Jr. said he made that decision because he doesn’t have enough information to determine whether Zachariah’s conduct was “a good-faith, well-intended attempt to perform official duties or responsibilities.”

In his order, today, however, the judge said that could change as the case unfolds.

In a motion filed two weeks ago, Zachariah’s lawyer, Roger M. Synenberg, asked that Synenberg & Associates LLC of Cleveland, be appointed to represent Zachariah at taxpayer expense.

Synenberg’s motion argued that Zachariah, former county Job and Family Services director, is entitled to a county-paid lawyer because the criminal charges against Zachariah stemmed from “the well-intended actions he performed in his official capacity as director of JFS, rather than for his own benefit.”

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com