Jury in Yavorcik trial begins deliberations

CLEVELAND

The jury in the Martin Yavorcik conspiracy-corruption trial started its deliberations on 10 felony counts facing the failed 2008 independent candidate for Mahoning County prosecutor.

They did so after Judge Janet R. Burnside of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, who is overseeing the trial, spent about 80 minutes giving them jury instructions.

Yavorcik is charged with one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, one count of conspiracy, three counts of bribery, two counts of tampering with records, and three counts of money laundering.

Prosecutors say Yavorcik ran in 2008 against incumbent Democrat Paul J. Gains to put an end to a criminal investigation of his political allies.

The investigation was related to his allies' efforts in 2006 to stop or impede Mahoning County's purchase of Oakhill Renaissance Place, the former Forum Health Southside Medical Center.

The county moved its Department of Job and Family Services to Oakhill from the Garland Plaza, owned by a Cafaro Co. subsidiary. The county had paid $449,000 annually in rent at Garland.