Sealing of records for former detective pushed back a month

Staff report

WARREN

The sealing of records related to the 2009 conviction of a former homicide detective is being pushed back a month after the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s office asked that a new special prosecutor be appointed.

An attorney for Peter Pizzulo, 54, requested sealing of records for Pizzulo’s grand-theft conviction. The hearing was set for Wednesday, but Judge W. Wyatt McKay ruled that it would be pushed back about a month.

That occurred in response to a motion filed Tuesday by Chris Becker, assistant county prosecutor, saying a special prosecutor should be assigned to determine whether the “complaining witness or others” object to the records being sealed.

The former special prosecutor in the matter was David Joyce, who is now a member of Congress and therefore unable to serve as special prosecutor, Becker said.

Pizzulo and Anthony Leshnack, former chief of the sheriff’s office civil division, were each convicted of grand theft for using money they obtained through the Ohio Narcotics Association to take trips to Las Vegas, pay for cellphones, dance lessons and summer camps for family members, as well as buy handguns and other personal items. The two founded the organization in 2004.

The organization’s stated purpose was to educate the public about drug and alcohol abuse, but about 90 percent of the money went to a telemarketing company, and thousands went to Pizzulo and Leshnack, Joyce said.

The organization raised about $1 million, mostly in Ohio, Joyce said.

Expungement apparently was granted to Leshnack earlier.

No new hearing date for Pizzulo has been set.