WARREN — A sitting county official has issued a formal request for review of a third-party vendor and her predecessor, alleging wrongdoing and a series of events she alleges compromised the integrity and lawful operation of her office.

According to a letter released Thursday, Trumbull County Recorder Dawn Zinni-Hanni requested that Ohio Auditor Keith Faber conduct a comprehensive investigation into alleged misconduct involving Tod Latell, who served as recorder from 2017 to 2025, and Document Technology Systems.

DTS powers the online portal for the recorder’s office, which allows public access to records such as deeds, liens and plats.

In the letter, Zinni-Hanni alleged that, after losing reelection in November 2024, Latell confronted her at a meeting and requested his employment be continued at the recorder’s office, demanding a $100,000 union-protected salary.

Latell allegedly told Zinni-Hanni she would not have to come to work, instead acting as a “mailbox recorder” — continuing her job as a nurse while receiving her recorder’s paycheck while he ran the office, according to the letter.

The letter states Latell said he would not run against Zinni-Hanni again if he was hired under those terms, noting that Latell’s statements were backed by two witnesses.

“This conduct appears to constitute an abuse of public office and an attempt to extort, bribe or intimidate an incoming elected official,” Zinni-Hanni wrote.

The letter alleges that Latell, by selecting DTS for records software over objections from the county’s IT department and later joining the company immediately after leaving office, violated Ohio Revised Code 102.03, which prohibits former public officials from profiting from or representing interests tied to contracts they approved or influenced.

Zinni-Hanni wrote that she and her staff documented “widespread and abnormal” system failures tied to the DTS software, which included missing recorded documents and repeated operational disruptions.

“Given the timing, access, motive and testimony regarding Tod Latell’s attempted bribery and extortion,” Zinni-Hanni wrote. “I have reason to suspect that Mr. Latell used his unlawful employment with DTS to interfere with or sabotage Recorder’s Office systems after I refused to hire him.”

Zinni-Hanni recalled the Nov. 12 internet breach, which caused her office to suspend all recording operations and resulted in a nine-day shutdown.

Zinni-Hanni wrote that the county’s IT department confirmed the breach resulted from DTS’s cybersecurity practices — deemed negligent — and posed a “severe risk” to the entire county’s computer systems, adding that multiple Ohio counties using the company’s software were affected.

According to Zinni-Hanni, the breach cost county taxpayers thousands of dollars in manpower, attorney fees and other expenses to ensure the integrity of the records for which her office is responsible.

“This attack could have compromised citizens’ documents such as deeds, titles, mortgages and other sensitive information, and posed a potential risk to the County’s entire computer system,” Zinni-Hanni wrote. “Including the Clerk of Court and County Auditor, who is responsible for County employee payroll, bank accounts, and Social Security numbers.

“This breach represents a grave failure in vendor oversight and data security for one of the most sensitive public record systems in Ohio.”

Zinni-Hanni wrote the cumulation of Latell’s alleged actions showed disregard for the public’s trust, noting that it resembled efforts at higher levels of government in the country.

“Taken together — the bribery and extortion attempt, unlawful employment, suspected system interference — these actions reflect a coordinated pattern of retaliation against a newly elected Republican Recorder and a reckless disregard for public trust,” Zinni-Hanni wrote. “The effect mirrors Democrat efforts to undermine President Trump through bureaucratic and technical sabotage when he was newly elected.”

Latell said he was not aware of the requested investigation until reporters contacted him for comment.

“I’m just finding out about this, and what I can tell you is that everything that she put in there is an absolute lie,” Latell said. “I have proof that it’s a lie.”

Latell added that he “fully intends” to file a lawsuit against Zinni-Hanni in response.