Prosecutors allege Kramer used his position as a public official in 2008 and 2009 to secure authorization of public contracts benefiting his private business, ScoresBroadcast.com. Miami County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Terry Lewis said he hoped Kramer would get some prison time, but that sentencing guidelines may tie the hands of Miami County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Gee.
“It’s just the kind of crime that needs to be enforced,” Lewis said. “You can’t allow public officials to contract with themselves and use public money.”
Billing records obtained by the Dayton Daily News show ScoresBroadcast.com billed Edison Community College $1,500 per month for several months for advertising.
“The new sentencing guidelines, I think, establish that he will probably get (probation), even though we don’t think it’s appropriate,” Lewis said. “We think a public official does need to receive some type of incarceration time just to deter future conduct of other public officials.”
Defense attorney Frank Patrizio declined to comment about the case that started with an Ohio Ethics Commission inquiry.
Earlier this year, Edison Community College announced it would implement a written evaluation process for administrators and strengthen its contractual oversight. A review of Kramer’s personnel file shows Kramer had not had any written reviews since the 1994-95 school year.
School officials said Kramer’s reviews were done orally, usually by then-President Kenneth Yowell, who retired in 2011 after 23 years in that role. Edison’s Academic Senate passed a no-confidence resolution against Yowell 44-1 with four abstentions in 2009.
When he retired Aug. 31, 2010, Kramer’s annual salary was $76,219.66. His annual salary when he started in 1985 was $29,000.
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