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Warren’s auditor to plead guilty to felony in white powder case
By Ed Runyan
YOUNGSTOWN
When Anthony J. Natale pleads guilty to conveying false information related to use of a weapon of mass destruction, a felony, he apparently no longer will be able to serve as Warren’s auditor after his conviction.
A notice filed Wednesday in federal court says that Natale, 37, of Genesee Avenue Northeast, “is prepared to acknowledge that the evidence available to the government provides a factual basis for his plea.”
Warren Law Director Greg Hicks said in a situation in which an elected official pleads guilty to a felony and the judge accepts the plea, the official would then automatically lose his elected office under Ohio law.
Should that happen in the Natale case, Mayor Doug Franklin would have to appoint someone to fill the position temporarily until the political party involved meets in five to 45 days to select a replacement.
If Natale were to be found guilty at his next hearing at 11 a.m. Tuesday before Judge Benita Y. Pearson, that would cause the auditor’s position to become vacant more than 40 days before the next general election, so candidates would have the chance to run in the general election in November to fill the position for the remaining three years left on Natale’s term.
Natale was indicted in March on the offense and has been free on bond. He has continued to serve as auditor.
The indictment accused him of sending an envelope containing white powder to his former employer, American Business Center, 7677 South Ave., Boardman, on Nov. 10, 2014, after being terminated from the job.
The powder fell out of the envelope onto an employee, causing panic that the powder might be a toxin, such as anthrax, and leading to an evacuation.
Carole S. Rendon, acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, in announcing the charges, said: “This defendant scared employees at his former workplace who opened an envelope containing white powder that they thought was a toxin.”
“He caused panic; fire, police and HazMat units were forced to respond, and his former employer was forced to close their operations for more than two days. Mr. Natale will be held accountable for his actions.”
Hicks advised city officials when Natale was indicted that he should be allowed to remain in office while the criminal case was pending because the crimes he was accused of committing involved his previous job.
Natale beccame Warren auditor Jan. 1, winning election last year after the retirement of longtime auditor David Griffing.