Visiting judge assigned to Mahoning County Probate Court

Visiting judge assigned to Mahoning County Probate Court

YOUNGSTOWN

A visiting judge assigned here by Ohio’s chief justice is already on duty this morning in Mahoning County Probate Court following the resignation of Mark Belinky as judge late Friday.

Visiting Judge R.R. Denny Clunk, a retired Stark County probate court judge, who has occasionally heard cases before as a visiting probate judge here, was meeting this morning with court supervisors and was to meet with the entire probate court staff later today, said Lucia Lovell, probate court administrator.

Shortly after Belinky’s resignation, the Ohio Supreme Court sent an e-mail at 6:10 p.m. Friday to Mahoning County Probate Court officials saying the top court’s Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor had assigned Judge Clunk here.

Belinky has been under a cloud since FBI and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents and sheriff’s deputies raided and executed search warrants at the probate court and Belinky’s Boardman home on Feb. 7.

Charges could include engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, tampering with records, bribery, money laundering, theft and theft in office, according to the search warrants, but no charges have been filed against Belinky.