UPDATE | Court vacates Yavorcik conviction over venue
CLEVELAND — The 8th District Court of Appeals today vacated the eight felony convictions of Martin Yavorcik in his Oakhill Renaissance Place corruption case saying Cuyahoga County was the wrong venue to conduct the trial.
In a 3-0 decision, the court of appeals wrote: “The trial court erred in denying Yavorcik’s motion for judgment of acquittal for lack of venue. As a result, Yavorcik’s conviction cannot stand. It is mandatory that venue be proven beyond a reasonable doubt before a conviction can be sustained.”
The court of appeals ordered the case be sent back to Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Janet R. Burnside, who oversaw Yavorcik’s trial, “to vacate the judgment.” It added:
“The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.”
Yavorcik, a failed 2008 independent Mahoning County prosecutor candidate, was found guilty March 25, 2016, of eight felonies: one count each of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, conspiracy and tampering with records, two counts of money laundering and three counts of bribery.
He was sentenced by Judge Burnside on April 22, 2016, to five years’ probation, including the first year on house arrest – which he served – as well as having his law license suspended for five years, requiring him to undergo alcohol-abuse treatment, and 200 hours of community service.
A three-member panel of the Cleveland-based 8th District Court of Appeals heard Yavorcik’s appeal March 28, 2017.
For the complete story, read Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com
More like this from vindy.com
- May 10, 2018 10:55 p.m.
Appeals court vacates Yavorcik convictions in Oak Hill case
- June 23, 2018 12:08 a.m.
Supreme Court rejects reinstating Yavorcik law license
- May 11, 2018 12:10 a.m.
Court vacates Yavorcik’s Oakhill convictions
- May 18, 2018 midnight
Yavorcik’s criminal conviction tainted, appellate judges rule
- June 25, 2018 11:11 p.m.
Yavorcik case appealed to Ohio Supreme Court
Subscribe Today
Sign up for our email newsletter to receive daily news.
Want more? Click here to subscribe to either the Print or Digital Editions.