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Longtime Leetonia chief faces theft in office charge

John Soldano

LISBON — A former longtime Leetonia police chief was among two people whose indictments were released on Wednesday.

John Soldano, 52, of East Liverpool, has been charged with theft in office, a third-degree felony, following an investigation by the state auditor office.

According to county Prosecutor Robert Herron, Soldano was indicted after money was found missing from two funds which were administered through the police department: the Leetonia police department’s fundraising account and the department’s Care and Share Program, which has provided help for more than 20 decades to disadvantaged families during the Christmas season.

Herron declined for now to release how much money was missing.

The indictment states it was found that between June 2013 and June 2015 more than $7,500 was taken from the accounts. Herron said the state auditor’s office turned over the results of the investigation to the prosecutor’s office, which pursued the charges during the May meeting dates of the grand jury last week.

Leetonia Mayor Kevin Siembida said he requested the audit when he took office in 2016. He said there were some small discrepancies in the village’s accounts, so a special audit coincided with the requested one.

Siembida said he wanted to ensure all the village departments were running smoothly and efficiently, and is disappointed with Soldano’s actions.

“It’s something I won’t tolerate in my administration, in the past and moving forward,” he said. “I believe the village’s taxpayers and residents deserve better.”

Siembida said Soldano paid restitution of over $15,000 to the village a few months ago.

The audit had not been released as of Wednesday.

Soldano resigned as the police chief in October of 2015 after serving 26 years with the Leetonia department, including his time as police chief, which began in 1997. Soldano ran unsuccessfully for county sheriff on four different occasions beginning with a primary loss in 2000 and ending with an unsuccessful bid against Sheriff Ray Stone in 2012. Soldano’s name was also mentioned as the mayor’s choice as the next possible police chief in Wellsville in 2014, following the death of their chief, Joe Scarabino. However, Wellsville village council disagreed with her recommendation at the time.

The indictment was initially a secret indictment, but was changed on Wednesday to an open summons. Soldano is currently scheduled for the group arraignments scheduled on June 8 at Common Pleas Court.

The other secret indictment released as an open indictment on Wednesday was for Richard P. Detwiler, 80, South Lincoln Avenue, Salem, charged with negligent assault, a third-degree misdemeanor, after allegedly harming John Weaver, Strader Road, East Liverpool, with a 2016 Chevrolet Cruz on April 14, 2017.

djohnson@mojonews.com khowell@salemnews.net

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