An Athens County judge recently struck down a motion to dismiss a $1 million civil lawsuit filed in January by a Glouster woman following the reported sexual abuse that she experienced as a minor by a since-dismissed priest.
Steubenville Bishop Jeffrey Monforton is the sole defendant of the suit, which alleges that he ânegligently failed to investigate and protect⦠to interveneâ in regard to reports of acts of sexual exploitation by his employee, ex-priest Henry Christopher Foxhoven.
The motion to dismiss was filed by the defendant in March.
âThe Court is unpersuaded at this point that the plaintiffâs complaint is one that cannot possibly succeed,â Athens County Common Pleas Court Judge George P. McCarthy in May noted in his decision. âThis is not to say the complaint ultimately will prevail or that the defense has no forceful arguments. Rather, it is a conclusion that the case should not be dismissed at the initial pleading stage.â
Charges against Richard Wilson, 51, of Stewart, the husband of the City of Nelsonvilleâs ex-deputy auditor, Stephanie Wilson, were dropped Monday in Athens County Common Pleas Court.
The prosecution alleges that, in addition to the large sum of money already taken by Stephanie Wilson, at least another $45,000 in fraudulent tax returns were also withdrawn, an Athens County Prosecutorâs Office media release stated.
Stephanie Wilsonâs March 8 indictment notes that she allegedly filed and processed inaccurate tax returns for her husbandâs company, Wilson Construction.
Stephanie Wilson later allegedly created fake businesses for the purpose of collecting tax returns from Nelsonville. The ex-deputy auditor then reportedly opened bank accounts to deposit checks written by the city to these businesses, and then she closed the accounts.
From staff reports
The alleged leader of an area drug ring pleaded not guilty to charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and aggravated possession of drugs in the Athens County Common Pleas Court Monday.
Judge Patrick Lang ordered that Roger Rutter, 50, of Glouster, be placed under a bond of $1 million.
First Assistant Prosecutor Meg Saunders argued for the million-dollar bond, citing Rutter as a âsubstantial flight risk.â Saunders pointed out that Rutter was aware that law enforcement was searching to execute an arrest warrant on him because he shared a media release to that effect on his own Facebook account. She also cited Rutter running from law enforcement when spotted near the Burr Oak Dam and that Rutter hid from police during the search of the Glouster home in which he was eventually found, a prosecutorâs offce press release stated.
Former Nelsonville Deputy Auditor Stephanie Wilson was sentenced Monday in Athens County Common Pleas Court to four years and 11 months in prison and was ordered to pay more than $200,000 in restitution to the City of Nelsonville.
Wilson, 47, of Stewart, previously pleaded guilty to tampering with records, a fourth-degree felony; forgery, a fourth-degree felony; telecommunications fraud, a third-degree felony; and theft in office, a third-degree felony â all charges related to funds she reportedly stole from Nelsonville during her tenure as the city s deputy auditor.
After that plea and prior to Mondayâs sentencing, Wilson was indicted on additional charges including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a second-degree felony, and theft in office, a third-degree felony. She pleaded not guilty and was placed under a $2.5 million bond. That case is still pending, the prosecutorâs office reported in a press release.
Roger Rutter Athens County Prosecutor’s Office Chief Investigator Jay Barrett, left, escorts Roger Rutter into a vehicle following Rutter’s arrest Friday in Glouster. (Photo Provided)
Roger Rutter
ATHENS, Ohio The suspected leader of an Athens/Perry County drug ring was apprehended Friday after two weeks on the run, the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office announced.
Roger Rutter, 50, of Glouster, was indicted in March on second-degree felony charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and aggravated possession of drugs. A release from the prosecutor’s office said Rutter was aware there was a warrant out for his arrest because a post requesting information on his whereabouts was shared by his Facebook account.