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Soldano trial may be delayed until spring

LISBON — Scheduling conflicts between visiting Judge Virgil Lee Sinclair Jr. and Assistant County Prosecutor Megan Bickerton could delay the trial of former Leetonia police chief John Soldano until spring.

During a brief hearing on Tuesday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court, it was determined the case would be set for a jury trial on April 17 with another pretrial to check on progress scheduled on Aug. 22.

Defense attorney Bruce Williams said Soldano did not have a problem waiting until spring for the trial and was willing to sign a waiver of time. Williams has requested the discovery of the evidence from Bickerton. While the evidence is mostly paperwork from the state auditor’s office, which investigated the case, Bickerton said the amount of it is “voluminous.”

Sinclair also asked for his own copy of the evidence so he could read ahead and be informed about the case. A retired judge from Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Sinclair was recently assigned to the case by Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor of the Ohio Supreme Court after both county Common Pleas Court judges, Scott Washam and C. Ashley Pike, determined they would be unable to hear the case.

Soldano, 53, who served as the Leetonia police chief for 26 years, has been charged with theft in office, which is a third-degree felony. According to state Auditor David Yost, Soldano repaid Leetonia for $15,916 in losses back in January, which represents the total amount of the loss from work log discrepancies and money missing from two fundraising accounts.

Sinclair said he normally likes to see his criminal cases move along, but was willing to move it out until spring with so many upcoming dates when those involved in the case cannot be available, including himself.

djohnson@mojonews.com

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