UPDATE | Sciortino indicted on 25 felonies alleging illegal use of public computers

June 4, 2015 at 2:48p.m.

Sciortino Indictment File

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Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas State of Ohio VS. Michael Sciortino

YOUNGSTOWN — Already facing 22 criminal counts for his alleged involvement in the Oakhill Renaissance Place criminal corruption case, ex-Mahoning County Auditor Michael V. Sciortino was indicted today on 25 felonies alleging illegal use of his public computers for campaign fundraising and for his private law practice.

A Mahoning County grand jury indicted Sciortino, 44, a Democrat from Austintown, on 21 counts of unauthorized use of property, computer or telecommunications, and four counts of theft in office.

The criminal conduct is alleged to have occurred between October 2005 and August 2012.

Investigators became suspicious of Scortino's computer use when, during the execution of a search warrant in September 2014, Sciortino said he wanted to keep a public computer overnight at his home and bring it to law enforcement the next day, according to the Ohio Attorney General's office. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which is overseen by the AG's office, refused the request.

Attempts today to reach Sciortino and his attorney, John Juhasz, for comment by The Vindicator were unsuccessful.

Today's indictments are a joint prosecution between the AG's office and the Mahoning County Prosecutor's office.

This indictment is separate from Oakhill though seizing Sciortino's computers was related to that case. In the Oakhill indictment, Sciortino along with Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally, a Democrat in his previous capacity as a county commissioner, and Martin Yavorcik, failed 2008 independent county prosecutor candidate, are facing 83 total criminal counts.

That indictment accuses the three of being part of a criminal enterprise to illegally, and unsuccessfully, impede or stop the move of the Mahoning County Department of Job and Family Services from the Cafaro Co.-owned Garland Plaza to Oakhill Renaissance Place, the former Forum Health Southside Medical Center, owned by the county.

That case is being prosecuted by the AG's office with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's office.

This is a breaking news story. Watch Vindy.com for updates and see Friday's Vindicator for the complete story.