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Magistrate liens total $146K
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Magistrate Dominic DeLaurentis of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court
YOUNGSTOWN
Magistrate Dominic J. DeLaurentis Jr. of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court has satisfied a $156,652 federal tax lien on his house, but he still owes $146,122 in a series of state income-tax liens in connection with his former law practice.
His boss, Judge John M. Durkin, said the debts are not DeLaurentis’ fault because they stemmed from the failure of a former law firm employee to pay the taxes to the IRS and the Ohio Department of Taxation after they were withheld from DeLaurentis’ compensation as a self-employed lawyer.
“Because Dominic was the employer, he’s obligated to pay those,” despite the employee’s failure to send the tax money to the IRS and the state, Judge Durkin explained.
DeLaurentis left private law practice and became a magistrate in April 2006 and earns more than $66,000 a year as a magistrate. As a full-time magistrate, he is now barred from being in private law practice.
The federal tax lien for 2004 and 2005 on DeLaurentis’ house on Reserve Court in Poland was released by the IRS in Detroit last Dec. 22.
The six state tax liens, filed in 2009 and 2010, are still active against DeLaurentis.
Although the liens are listed against DeLaurentis at a Marwood Circle address where he practiced law, a deputy clerk of courts said the liens apply against any real estate DeLaurentis owns.
Judge Durkin said he has full confidence in DeLaurentis’ ability to perform his duties as a magistrate.
“He has been, and continues to be, a valued employee of the court,” Judge Durkin said.
“I have the utmost confidence in his professionalism, in his ethics and in his competence,” the judge added.
Judge Durkin said DeLaurentis has been working with the state concerning the tax debt, but the judge wasn’t sure if a payment plan has been set up.
DeLaurentis could not be reached to comment.