Sciortino requests another delay in Oakhill case

YOUNGSTOWN

The attorney for ex-Mahoning County Auditor Michael V. Sciortino, facing 25 felony counts, asked a judge to delay the Jan. 11 trial date and to grant an extension of at least 90 days to file pretrial motions and disclose evidence.

The reasons given in a legal motion from John B. Juhasz, who represents Sciortino, are unforeseen developments in some of his other cases that make “it impossible for counsel to do what is required in the representation of the defendant and to [ensure] that the proceedings against him are fair.”

Juhasz wrote in the seven-page filing: “Counsel in all candor cannot meet the deadlines effectively nor can counsel be prepared for a trial in January. In short, counsel would be constitutionally ineffective.”

Thursday was the deadline given by Juhasz on Aug. 6 from visiting Judge Patricia A. Cosgrove to file pretrial motions and turn over evidence to the prosecution. Juhasz filed a request to continue the trial and extend his pretrial deadline “by not less than 90 days.” If approved by the judge, the trial would be delayed from its scheduled Jan. 11 start date.

Read more of the latest in the Oakhill corruption case in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.