YAVORCIK TRIAL | Oakhill corruption trial ends with 8 guilty verdicts

CLEVELAND — A jury found Martin Yavorcik, a failed 2008 independent candidate for Mahoning County prosecutor, guilty today of 8 of the 10 felonies he faced.

They couldn't decide on one count.

The jury's verdict came on the second day of deliberations.

The verdict was:

• Engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity: guilty.

• Conspiracy: guilty.

• Bribery for taking $135,500 and other campaign services from former Cafaro Co. executives Anthony Cafaro Sr., his sister Flora, and their brother, J.J.: guilty.

• Bribery for taking $2,500 from Lisa Antonini, a former Mahoning County Democratic Party chairwoman and county treasurer: guilty.

• Bribery for taking $2,500 from ex-county Auditor Michael V. Sciortino: guilty.

• Tampering with records for falsifying his 2008 pre-general election campaign finance report: guilty.

• Tampering with records for falsifying his 2008 post-general election campaign finance report: not guilty.

• Money laundering for taking $15,000 from Flora Cafaro: guilty.

• Money laundering for taking $2,500 from Sciortino: guilty.

• Money laundering for taking $120,000 from the three Cafaro siblings: no decision.

Prosecutors had the last charge dismissed.

He faces three to 10 years in prison.

Prosecutors say Yavorcik ran for prosecutor 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 about $449,000 annually in rent at Garland.

Yavorcik said he wanted to be prosecutor and had personal grudges against Gains.

Yavorcik will be free on bond until his sentencing date.

Sciortino and Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally, Yavorcik's co-defendants, took plea deals Feb. 26 to reduced charges and avoided trial. They're to be sentenced Monday.