Yavorcik seeks to represent himself in Oakhill case

CLEVELAND — The lawyers for Atty. Martin Yavorcik, one of the three defendants in the Oakhill Renaissance Place criminal conspiracy case, asked a judge to withdraw as his legal counsel.

Yavorcik wants to represent himself, according to the legal filing.

The motion came from Jennifer J. Scott and William L. Summers, who have represented Yavorcik who was indicted May 14 with Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally and Mahoning County Auditor Michael V. Sciortino. The latter two are Democrats while Yavorcik is an independent who unsuccessfully ran for county prosecutor in 2008.

Judge Janet R. Burnside of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, who is overseeing this case, hadn’t decided as of Tuesday morning on the request.

The motion from Scott and Summers doesn’t explain why they want to withdraw from the case. Efforts to reach the attorneys and Yavorcik this morning by The Vindicator haven’t been successful.

Yavorcik, McNally and Sciortino are accused of being involved in a conspiracy to impede the move of the county Department of Job and Family Services from the then-Cafaro-Co.-owned Garland Plaza on Youngstown’s East Side to Oakhill Renaissance Place, the former Forum Health Southside Medical Center.

The three have pleaded not guilty to 83 total counts, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, bribery, conspiracy, money laundering and tampering with records. McNally is accused of criminal acts in his former capacity as county commissioner.

For the complete story, read Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com