Latest news with #CommonPleas
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Judge expected to decide if Aliza Sherman murder suspect should be placed on GPS
CLEVELAND (WJW) – A Cuyahoga County Common Pleas judge will be asked Wednesday to place an accused killer, who is now out on a $2 million bond, on a GPS monitoring device. Judge Kira Krivosh is expected to hear arguments on the matter during a pretrial for Gregory Moore. Moore, a former divorce attorney, is accused of killing his client Aliza Sherman in March of 2013. Her case had gone unsolved for 12 years. Local doctor indicted on ethnic intimidation in threats against Jewish-American congressman Max Miller A grand jury secretly indicted Moore in May on several charges including aggravated murder. He was arraigned May 28. At that time, Judge Deborah Turner set his bond at $2 million and the only restriction she placed on him was that he stay away from Sherman's family. Moore posted the bond July 3 and walked out of the Cuyahoga County jail. A short time later, prosecutors filed a motion asking he be placed on an electronic monitoring device. Moore's attorney, Jon Paul Rion, however, objects. Rion said he does not believe it is necessary to place any additional restrictions on Moore.'Moreover, for 13 years, Moore has been in plain sight, not hiding and not on the run,' Moore's attorney wrote in a motion opposing the GPS monitoring device. 'Moore is prepared to face these false allegations against him.' Tornado confirmed in Medina County on Monday The prosecution, however, disagrees. 'This case is not weak by any means,' prosecutors wrote in their motion. 'The fact that Gregory Moore thinks it is, is even more reason for his whereabouts to be monitored by this court until the trial in this matter.' Moore's trial is set for March. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Toronto Star
7 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Lawsuit challenges plan to use unclaimed funds for new Cleveland Browns stadium
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Republicans' strategy for funding a new domed stadium for the Cleveland Browns using residents' unclaimed funds violates multiple provisions of the state and federal constitutions, according to a class action lawsuit filed in county court. Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann and former state Rep. Jeffrey Crossman, both Democrats, filed the expected legal action in Franklin County Common Pleas on Monday on behalf of three named Ohio residents, as well as all other individuals whose unclaimed funds were being held by the state as of June 30, 2025. They have asked the court for an injunction stopping the plan.
Toronto Star
7 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Lawsuit filed against plan to use unclaimed funds for new Cleveland Browns stadium
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Republicans' strategy for funding a new domed stadium for the Cleveland Browns using residents' unclaimed funds violates multiple provisions of the state and federal constitutions, according to a class action lawsuit filed in county court. Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann and former state Rep. Jeffrey Crossman, both Democrats, filed the expected legal action in Franklin County Common Pleas on Monday on behalf of three named Ohio residents, as well as all other individuals whose unclaimed funds were being held by the state as of June 30, 2025. They have asked the court for an injunction stopping the plan.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Murder trial for 'El Diablo' begins with opening statements
Jun. 11—Antonio Riano does not deny he shot Benjamin Becarra outside a Hamilton bar 20 years ago. But his defense attorneys this week will try to prove he did it in self defense. The murder trial for Riano, also known as 'El Diablo,' began today with opening statements after jurors were chosen Tuesday in a Butler County Common Pleas courtroom. The prosecution said the 63-year-old Mexican national said he ruthlessly shot the 25-year-old Becarra in the face on Dec. 19, 2024, with a .38 Smith & Wesson. The defense said Riano was at a breaking point, claiming he and his family were terrorized by the man he shot. Assistant prosecutor Michael Hon led the proceedings Wednesday with his opening statement before a jury of 12 and two alternates. The facts show that the two men were at the Round House Bar on East Avenue and Long Street. Riano was inside when Becarra walked through a door off Long Street. An argument ensued, which had continued outside the bar. Hon said Riano fired a shot into the ground, and Becarra told a cousin to call 911. Then Riano walked away, but turned back, and they continued arguing. A bystander from the bar stood between the two men, but Hon said Riano pulled out his gun, stretched his arm over that bystander, and shot Becarra in the face. Defense attorney Kara Blackney said the shooting was in self-defense, and told the jury her client had "enough." She said Becarra and his friends terrorized him and his family — he had a wife and three children under 10 at the time — and allegedly attacked his younger brother. "Antonio wasn't going to the Round House Bar looking for a fight," Blackney said, adding his "El Diablo" nickname stems from volunteer work for his church as a teenager. "The fight found him." Blackney said the shooting happened mid-afternoon on Dec. 19, 2004, and Becarra said his blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit and tested positive for cocaine. She was also told he was not permitted in that bar, as well as others, due to a fight the day prior. Hon told the jurors that the evidence presented and the witnesses called "may seem out of order to you," mostly in part due to navigating schedules and travel of witnesses, "it will all come together at the end." Butler County authorities worked the case for two decades with federal authorities to bring Riano back to Hamilton on the murder charge. According to Blackney, Riano fled Hamilton, going to New Jersey before heading to Mexico, where he had lived for the past 20 years, including working as a police officer in his hometown. Riano was indicted on the murder charge in February 2005. He was extradited back to the United States with the help of the U.S. Marshals Office and other authorities on Aug. 1.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Five candidates emerge as sole candidate for November district judge races
WINDBER – Of the two women who sought to fill a district judgeship in Windber, Kayla Kormanik-Lucas emerged the lone candidate after the primary election Tuesday, unofficial election results show. Kormanik-Lucas, of Ogle Township, advances to the Nov. 4 general election unopposed: she sailed through the Republican primary as the only candidate on the ballot and defeated local attorney Amy Thomas, of Paint Township, in the Democratic primary Tuesday. Candidates are permitted to cross-file for the seat, which has a six-year term. Kormanik-Lucas won 582 votes to Thomas' 279 votes in the Democratic primary. She also won 1,417 votes on the Republican side, where she was uncontested. 'I'm honored that the people of my district trust me to move forward on both sides of the ticket,' said Kormanik- Lucas, a Widener Law School graduate who works as a contract administrator for a local defense firm. She said her victory Tuesday was the culmination of several months of hard work. 'I made an honest run with integrity,' she said. 'I met people (Tuesday) at the polls. It was great to see people come out.' After the November election, Kormanik-Lucas will serve in the judge's seat, serving communities in the Windber Area and Shade-Central City school districts, succeeding District Judge William Seger, who is retiring at the end of the year. The Windber-based district judge seat includes communities in the Windber Area and Shade-Central City school districts. 'I have always felt called to public service,' she said. Thomas said she was thankful to her supporters, but disappointed in recent TV news coverage of the race. 'First and foremost, l'm incredibly grateful to everyone who supported me in this race,' Thomas said. 'Unfortunately, this race was never just about qualifications – it became clear early on that I was also up against media bias and misinformation. The coverage I received was often one-sided and failed to reflect the truth about my record and my character. 'I've overcome significant personal challenges and was fully cleared of past accusations, yet that didn't seem to matter to those determined to discredit me,' she said. 'Despite the loss, I remain committed to serving this community and will continue looking for ways to make a meaningful, positive impact. This was just one chapter – not the end of the story.' A New Centerville judge's seat, in Somerset's District 16-3-05, also had two challengers – both cross-filed – with one winner on both tickets. Patrick Svonavec, of Milford Township, secured that primary victory Tuesday over Daniel Lewis, of Confluence Borough. Svonavec is a longtime attorney with experience practicing at the Common Pleas and federal court levels. Lewis is a longtime state constable in the region. Svonavec won 191 Democratic votes to Lewis' 100. On the Republican ticket, Svonavec won 596 votes to Lewis' 473. District 16-3-05 includes the townships of Black, Jefferson, Milford, Middlecreek, Upper and Lower Turkeyfoot and Casselman, Confluence, New Centerville, Rockwood, Seven Springs and Ursina boroughs. The office was previously held by Sandra Stevanus, who retired last year. In Cambria County, two men sought election to District 47-3-01, which has been held by longtime District Judge Mary Ann Zanghi. William 'Bill' Hines Jr., of Nanty Glo, a longtime law enforcement officer now working as a Cambria County detective, won the primary on both party tickets. His opponent, Aaron Ling, of East Conemaugh, is a former Cambria County public defender who has worked as a full-time assistant prosecutor with the Somerset County District Attorney's Office since 2020. Hines won 779 votes on the Democratic ballot to Ling's 401. On the Republican side, Hines won 958 votes to Ling's 422 votes. District 47-3-01 includes Browns- town, East Conemaugh, Franklin, Nanty Glo and Franklin, in addition to the townships of East Taylor, Jackson, Lower Yoder, Middle Taylor and West Taylor. For Cambria County judge, District Attorney Greg Neugebauer cruised through unopposed primary on both tickets for the position. He won 9,851 votes on the Republican ticket and 7,980 votes on the Democratic ticket. In November, he is seeking a seat that has been vacant since former Judge David Tulowitzki retired in 2023. In Somerset County, District Attorney Molly Metzgar also ran unopposed in her Republican bid for a county judge seat vacated in late 2023 by former President Judge Gregory Geary. Metzgar, of Somerset Township, won 7,359 votes Tuesday on the Republican ticket. Russ O'Reilly is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat.
