Ohio school board ex-president appeals child porn sentence

AKRON, Ohio (AP) — A former northern Ohio school board president is appealing the 14-year prison sentence he got after a task force seized 67 files of child pornography on his home computer.

The Northeast Ohio Media Group reports Steve Bittel’s attorney has filed an appeal in Akron, asking the court to review the length of his sentence.

Bittel was sentenced April 22 on 14 child-pornography related charges and five other charges. He resigned from the Nordonia Hills School Board in September.

Atty. James Burdon says part of the appeal is based on a judge’s decision to have Bittel serve consecutive sentences for similarly grouped charges, instead of serving his sentences at the same time.

Bittel’s replacement, Jim Virost, resigned this week amid criticism of a letter he wrote supporting Bittel.