Niles councilman found guilty of OVI charge

NILES — Councilman Edward S. McCormick, 59, of Elm Court, pleaded no contest today to operating a motor vehicle impaired and was found guilty in Niles Municipal Court.

McCormick, a Democrat, was charged after an Aug. 24 traffic crash on Pratt Street in which he struck a pickup truck.

Judge Thomas Townley ordered him to pay a $400 fine and court costs. His license was suspended for 180 days with driving privileges for work, medical appointments, school and church, and he was ordered to attend a three-day driving intervention program. He was not ordered to serve any jail time.

His blood-alcohol level was tested at 0.228 by Niles police the day of the accident. The legal limit in Ohio is .08.

McCormick, a councilman since 2007, is on the November ballot for re-election to council and has no opponent.