Prosecutors say Yavorcik was bribed to run for office

CLEVELAND

Prosecutors contend Martin Yavorcik, a failed 2008 Mahoning County prosecutor candidate, was bribed to run for office by those allegedly involved in the Oakhill Renaissance Place criminal-corruption investigation to make it go away if he won.

Those are the accusations against Yavorcik, on trial in Cuyahoga County on 11 felonies, in the opening statement by Dan Kasaris, the case's lead prosecutor and a senior Ohio attorney general.

In his 36-minute opening statement, Kasaris said prosecutors have secretly taped recordings that Yavorcik told those being investigated that "if he won, I will kill the investigation."

In his opening remarks today in his trial, Yavorcik said, "There was no conspiracy, no cover-up."

He added that some of these people allegedly involved in the supposed Oakhill criminal enterprise were his friends for 20 years.

"I had no belief they committed any crimes," Yavorcik said.

Prosecutors claim those in the alleged conspiracy paid Yavorcik close to $150,000 as bribes for him to run.

"These so-called bribes are campaign contributions," Yavorcik said during his 15-minute opening statement.

He added: "There's no evidence there were bags of cash."

Earlier in the day while talking to potential jurors, Yavorcik said he is concerned that some will have a negative feeling about him because of Youngstown's poor reputation.

"Youngstown is not portrayed in the best light, right?" Yavorcik said to the potential jurors today. Most nodded their heads in agreement.

Yavorcik, the final Oakhill Renaissance Place criminal-corruption case defendant to not plead guilty, also asked if the 29 potential jurors had a problem with politicians and lawyers.

"It's important because I'm from Youngstown who's a lawyer who ran for political office," he said

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