Trending
YOUNGSTOWN -- Visiting Judge Pam Rintala on Friday issued an ex-parte domestic violence protection order against Mahoning County Clerk of Courts Michael Ciccone after a domestic disturbance involving him and his wife, Emily Ciccone, July 23 at Michael Ciccone's home on South Edgehill Avenue in Austintown.
The order restrains Michael Ciccone from committing acts of abuse or threatening abuse against his wife and other protected persons named in the order effective July 24, according to documents in the protection order case.
The order apparently protects Emily Ciccone and four other people. One of them is a woman, 64. The names and ages of the three others are blacked out on the document. She requested protection for herself, her minor children and a family or household member who is not a minor child, the document states. Emily Ciccone gave her address as being in southern Mahoning County.
An ex-parte domestic violence order is an order of protection issued by a judge after an ex-parte hearing that involves only the petitioner after swearing an oath to tell the truth. It is frequently held the same day a person files for a protection order. If the ex-parte protection order is granted, a full hearing will be scheduled where the petitioner and other party are able to testify.
Michael Ciccone was advised in the document that a hearing on the matter will take place at 1 p.m. Aug. 4 in Mahoning County Domestic Relations Court. Rintala is a retired former Trumbull County Family Court judge.
The order states that on July 23, Michael Ciccone "placed a minor child ... in danger by driving recklessly while the minor child was not fastened in a child safety seat."
It states that Emily Ciccone "is in fear that the child could have been seriously injured. (She) is fearful for herself and the members of her household as well as the child."
Emily Ciccone is "designated residential parent and legal (custodian) of the parties' minor children. (Michael Ciccone) to have no contact with (Emily Ciccone), the minor children or (Emily Ciccone's) parents at this time," it states.
The document states that Michael Ciccone shall not enter or interfere with the residence, school, business, place of employment, day care centers or child care providers or the protected persons and he shall stay away from all of the protected persons and not be within 500 feet of any of the protected persons.
He also cannot have any contact with the protected persons or the facilities mentioned through phone calls or texts, social media or or through another person.
The order required Michael Ciccone to turn over any deadly weapons he possessed. The order was served on Michael Ciccone at his home in Austintown on Monday night by a deputy with the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office and an officer with the Austintown Police Department.
Emily Ciccone's written complaint states that she went to the Austintown residence about 9 p.m. July 23. Michael Ciccone and Pam Ciccone "came back" to the Austintown residence. Emily was there to pick up (blacked out name).
"Michael and I agreed to exchange (blacked out name). I walked up to the window. Michael gasses the car while (blacked out name) was in the front seat fighting with Michael. Michael goes through the yard driving the car while using the neighbor's driveway to escape and not let me have my son," Emily Ciccone stated.
She said she was in "fear for my children's safety, physical and mental well being." The police were called "right away because Michael put my son ... in danger. He was more concerned about me picking up my son that we agreed on than the safety of our son," she stated.
The document notes that Michael Ciccone also has an open civil protection order that was "filed against him by his sister." The Vindicator requested documents relating to that matter about two months ago, but the Clerk of Courts Office, which Michael Ciccone runs, never provided them, including when the documents were requested from Chief Deputy Clerk of Courts Katherine Rudzik.
The deputy contacted Emily Ciccone to meet him there to get custody of her son. When the officers arrived, Michael Ciccone was not there, but he agreed to come home when the deputy called him to tell him he had papers to serve on him.
When Michael Ciccone arrived, the deputy read the protection order to him, and the boy was given to Emily Ciccone.
DIVORCE FILING
Michael filed for divorce against Emily Ciccone on Monday, the same day he was served with the ex-parte domestic violence protection order, according to a Mahoning County Domestic Relations Court document.
The new divorce filing document states that Michael and Emily Ciccone have three children. Michael Ciccone checked a box stating that he is "willing to attend mediation."
The couple also went through divorce proceedings filed by Emily Ciccone in the fall of 2025 that included a mutual restraining order after Emily was arrested in September of 2025 on allegations by Michael Ciccone that Emily threw items at him, causing bleeding.
Emily Ciccone filed a pro-se (without an attorney) notice of voluntary dismissal of the divorce Oct. 21, 2025, and the divorce was dismissed Oct. 22, 2025.
A misdemeanor charge against Emily Ciccone was dismissed Oct. 14 2025, when the prosecutor in the case cited a lack of evidence.
When The Vindicator asked Michael Ciccone on Wednesday for comment on the ex-parte domestic relations protection order, he provided a written statement, reading, "I will not litigate this matter through the media.
"This is a personal and private matter involving my wife, myself and most importantly our three young children. Out of respect for my family and to protect the privacy of our children, I respectfully ask that our privacy be honored as this matter proceeds through the legal process," he stated.