Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024
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Tomlinson and Burge arraigned ‘We are innocent’: Prosecutor, chief of staff deny felony charges Owen MacMillan The Community Guide
ELYRIA — Lorain County Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson and Chief of Staff Jim Burge faced felony charges as they made their initial appearance in Elyria Municipal Court on Oct. 3. As Tomlinson and Burge walked out of the Municipal Court building, they were met with cheers and applause from about two dozen supporters. Speaking from the courthouse steps, Tomlinson proclaimed the pair’s innocence, saying that when the truth came out, they would be exonerated. “We just want to say that we’re very comfortable with the evidence that we
have and we look forward to our day in court. We are innocent,” he said. Tomlinson and Burge are each charged with intimidation and tampering with evidence, and Tomlinson is also charged with attempted bribery. All are felonies. The charges were filed by the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, which alleges that Tomlinson and Burge tampered with evidence and a witness in an ongoing joint investigation between the Sheriff’s Office, the state Auditor’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Burge and Tomlinson are accused of trying to convince Tomlinson’s former girlfriend and employee Jennifer Battistelli to sign false statements about an
argument in August 2023. In a complaint last year that was written but never filed, Battistelli alleged that Tomlinson “grabbed, threw and shook” her during that altercation. Battistelli and the Prosecutor’s Office eventually agreed to a $100,000 settlement that was approved by the Lorain County Commissioners in October 2023. That settlement was paid through requistitions from the office’s salary budget rather than through the county insurance plan, and it is now subject to the joint BRUCE BISHOP / COMMUNITY GUIDE investigation. Tomlinson and Burge are accused of Lorain County Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson, left, attempting to tamper with evidence and talks to his chief of staff, Jim Burge during their intimidate Battistelli into walking back arraignment in Elyria Municipal Court. her previous statement.
Former deputy guilty of rape
In Milton’s path Stay or go? Stay or go? We decided to stay and hope we are spared as we wait the wrath of a direct hit The waiting is the hardest part. It’s like being hunted down by a murderous turtle, like a local TV celebrity said. By the time you’re reading this, I will know whether the decision not to evacuate was the right one. Eleven days ago, Hurricane Helene skirted by Tampa Bay on its way north. That “skirting” destroyed the beaches in Pinellas County, the little peninsula across the bay from Tampa. From St. Pete Beach to Clearwater Beach, Helene’s wall of water washed over the barrier islands, flooding homes and businesses that have never flooded and spreading sand everywhere. Bulldozers and all kinds of trucks had begun clearing the streets of sand -- and trash. People pulled everything that was ruined in their houses onto curbs. If streets were houses, they could be on that “Hoarders” show. Piles of mattresses, couches, drywall, furniture, clothes … anything you can imagine is piled in front of houses. They hadn’t made a dent in the cleanup when we started hearing rumblings another hurricane was on its way. Didn’t pay much attention. “Yeah, yeah, whatever,” I thought as I dragged another pile of fallen palm leaves to the curb after Helene. Before long, it started getting serious, real serious. There really was another hurricane coming. Milton. And, it looked as if it was headed right toward Tampa Bay, a very shallow and warm body of water that is about 15 miles across. Catastrophic. A hurricane spinning counterclockwise heading into the bay would wipe out Tampa, the left side of the spin. We’ve heard it before. It’s common knowledge. And the rest of the
placed by the victim and individuals she had contacted for help, to find Crausaz A jury found Charles “Chuck” Crausaz guilty on sitting in his garage with all charges in Lorain Coun- a handgun, loaded with a single round. ty Common Pleas Judge Rothgery gave instrucChristopher tions to the jury at about Rothgery’s 2 p.m. on Thursday after court on closing arguments were Oct.2. given by Lorain County Crausaz, Assistant Prosecutor Ryan 52, of Hakos and defense attorney Columbia Matthew Bobrowski. The Township, jury deliberated for about faced felony Crausaz two hours before returning charges of with its verdict. rape, kidCrausaz, sitting at the napping and two counts defense table, didn’t visibly of strangulation as well as react as the jury delivered misdemeanor charges of its verdict. domestic violence and usAs the prosecution, ing weapons while intoxicated in the trial that started Hakos had the opportunity to address the jury twice. Monday. Crausaz is a former deputy with the Lorain In his closing statement, he ran through the requireCounty Sheriff’s Office. ments for each count as Throughout the week, dictated by law. jurors heard testimony Many of the issues from the victim, who took in question were not in the stand on Monday and Tuesday, and several other dispute, Hakos said. The witnesses in support of the defense did not argue Crausaz didn’t have a state’s case. Crausaz himsexual encounter with the self was the only witness victim, nor that his conduct called by the defense. He took the stand on Thursday took place on May 12. Where the two sides morning. The Chronicle-Telegram differed, Bobrowski said, was the nature of the sexual does not typically identify conduct. In its case, the victims of sexual assault. defense asserted it was On May 11, Crausaz entirely consensual. returned from a brief stay Bobrowski’s defense case at an alcohol abuse rehaargued that the prosecubilitation facility in Cincintion had not proved beyond nati. While drunk the next a reasonable doubt that day, Crausaz is convicted Crausaz’ offenses had ocof handcuffing the victim curred. in his home, physically Throughout his testiassaulting her and forcing her to engage in sexual acts mony earlier on Thursday, Crausaz contradicted what while taking photos. witnesses for the prosecuSheriff’s deputies responded to calls for domes- tion had previously testified tic violence at the home, about the incident. Richard Perrins The Community Guide
PATTI EWALD / COMMUNITY GUIDE
The streets are all lined with the stuff that people put on the curb after Helene. Where is all that stuff going to go when the new wall of water comes? These pictures were all taken in Gulfport. stations along I-75 ran out of gas. I’ll be fine. A few hours later, they added Zone B to mandatory evacuation. Monday night, A, B and C were all under evacuation orders. Should I be more afraid than I am? Patti Ewald My best friend and her husband, bay wouldn’t fare too well either. who live two blocks over, are leavDespite the warnings and my ing their 100-year-old house to stay faraway sons’ urgings, I was staying. in my 20-year-old house. And my I’m about a half mile to the interfriend (who has a generator!) is here, coastal with three cats and a dog but too. He thinks his little wood-frame I’m in Evacuation Zone D. Zone A is beach house at the top of Tampa Bay the worst; mandatory evacuation al- could be washed or blown away. ways. Sometimes Zone B gets some So, here we are waiting. It’s calm flooding but C and D are usually and breezy and the sky is kind of good. yellowish the way it gets before a There really isn’t anywhere to go tornado in Ohio. anyway. When Helene was coming, Earliest possible arrival is about a lot of people evacuated to Orlando, midnight Wednesday. (Last night to which is about an hour northeast. you.) I’ll keep you posted. Not this time. Did you see Milton’s Just remember (and tell my sons), cone? Covers the state of Florida. We I’ll be fine. would have to drive to Georgia to get Patti Ewald, the former managing editor of The out of this one. Chronicle, moved to Gulfport (under the “3” on the And that option ran out when gas map above) in 2008.
INSIDE THIS WEEK Hurricane help
Local people fly aid to Tennessee. A2
Blessing the dogs
St. Peter’s celebrates St. Francis. A3
Oberlin
High school tech students honored. A4
SPORTS A6 • CROSSWORD A7 • SUDOKU A7 • KID SCOOP A8