Public defender's office to appoint attorney for Yavorcik's appeal

CLEVELAND — A judge ruled that Martin Yavorcik, convicted of eight felonies in connection with the Oakhill Renaissance Place corruption probe, is indigent and will have the public defender’s office appoint an attorney to handle his appeal.

Judge Janet R. Burnside of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, who sentenced Yavorcik on April 22 to five years of probation, ruled Monday in favor of the failed 2008 independent Mahoning County prosecutor candidate’s request that he be declared indigent.

In addition to not paying legal fees for an attorney for his appeal, Yavorcik will also be given a transcript of his trial. Yavorcik had estimated the cost of the transcript at $10,000.

Prosecutors didn’t file an opposition to Yavorcik’s motion.

Yavorcik, an attorney, unsuccessfully defended himself in last month’s trial. The Ohio Supreme court indefinitely suspended his law license May 2 because of the eight felony convictions.

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