Judicial panel removes Mahoning Co. auditor of his duties

YOUNGSTOWN — With less than two weeks left in his term as Mahoning County auditor, a three-member panel in Columbus agreed today to suspend Michael V. Sciortino from the job with pay.

The decision is related to Sciortino’s indictment in the Oakhill Renaissance Place criminal corruption case. It came after a closed-door hearing last Tuesday, and more than three months after the Ohio Supreme Court told the panel of three retired judges to make a decision on the suspension.

Under state law, Sciortino, a Democrat, has 30 days from today to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

Public officials charged with felonies directly related to their positions are subject to suspensions with pay, according to state law. Sciortino gets $89,109 in annual salary. His term expires March 8.

The report from the judicial commission said allegations related to Sciortino providing money to Martin Yavorcik, also indicted in the Oakhill case, to allegedly have the latter block an investigation into Oakhill as well as Sciortino’s alleged violation of ethics disclosure requirements were reasons to suspend him.

Yavorcik, a failed 2008 independent candidate for Mahoning County prosecutor, along with Sciortino and Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally, in the latter’s previous elected position of Mahoning County commissioner, are facing 83 criminal counts accusing them of being involved in a conspiracy.

The conspiracy accuses the three — and numerous others who haven’t been charged — of illegally trying to impede or stop the move of the county's Department of Job and Family Services from the Cafaro Co.-owned Garland Plaza to Oakhill, the former Forum Health Southside Medical Center.

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