Judge recuses herself from Roller trial

YOUNGSTOWN

The trial of Richard A. Roller, former Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Partnership executive director, was aborted during jury selection this afternoon because Judge Shirley J. Christian of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court found she had a previously unknown conflict that prevented her from presiding over the case.

After Judge Christian recused herself, the jurors were dismissed, and the case will be reassigned to a new judge to be heard by a new jury.

Roller, 50, of Colonial Drive, who was MYCAP director for 10 years until he was fired in May 2010, is charged with theft in office, grand theft, having an unlawful interest in a public contract and soliciting or receiving improper compensation.

Jury selection for Roller’s trial had just begun this morning.

The judge was expected to spell out the nature of the conflict in a written judgment entry this afternoon.