Visiting judge to hear case against Sciortino

YOUNGSTOWN — Judge Shirley J. Christian of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court recused herself from hearing the criminal case of ex-county Auditor Michael V. Sciortino, who faces 25 felony counts of illegally using government-owned computers and software.

In a one-line journal entry, the judge wrote: “The court hereby recuses itself from further proceedings in this case and requests reassignment.”

Attempts by The Vindicator to reach Judge Christian, Sciortino and John B. Juhasz, the defendant’s attorney, were unsuccessful.

None of the county’s judges will hear Sciortino’s case.

“A letter will be going to the [Ohio] Supreme Court requesting a visiting judge be assigned to that case,” said Robert Regula, court administrator.

Sciortino, an Austintown Democrat who served as county auditor from Sept. 14, 2005, to Feb. 23, 2015, was indicted June 4 on 21 felony counts of unauthorized use of property – computer or telecommunication property – and four felony counts of theft in office. He has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors say Sciortino and three auditor employees at his direction illegally used the county’s computers and software more than 300 times to raise money for

political purposes to keep him in office and for his private law practice.

Using government property for business is never permitted under state law, Paul M. Nick, executive director for the Ohio Ethics Commission, has said.

For the complete story, read Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com