Slaughter was the Democratic Party’s treasurer when she allegedly took the money from the party’s coffers. She resigned as treasurer on June 16 and paid the party $1,700 for what Democratic Party Chairwoman Jocelyn Bucaro called “unauthorized withdrawals.” That same day, the Board of Elections placed Slaughter on paid administrative leave. She was fired from her job on June 23.
Slaughter said little during the short arraignment hearing Wednesday, answering only “yes, sir,” when told by the judge to keep in contact with her attorney, Dennis Adams, and to show up for all future hearings.
Hedric released Slaughter on her own recognizance. She is scheduled to be back in court July 27 for a pretrial conference. The two-day trial on two charges of theft in office is scheduled to begin Nov. 14.
Slaughter and Adams declined comment.
Elections board Chairman Tom Ellis said Slaughter’s termination was related to a personnel matter — which he would not discuss — but said the alleged theft was a contributing factor.
Ellis had said the board hoped to fill the position — the candidate must be a Democrat according to state law — “quickly.” As of Wednesday afternoon, 20 applications have been received, and Ellis said he anticipates a decision to be made within two weeks.
Bucaro said the party’s executive committee will vote for a new treasurer at its July 21 meeting. She said Slaughter has not resigned her elected central committee post.
A grand jury indicted Slaughter last month shortly after the arrest of her ex-boyfriend James C. Schmidt Jr., 45, for allegedly breaking into and vandalizing the board office and the Clerk of Courts Title office on Wessel Drive in Fairfield.
Slaughter filed for and was granted a domestic violence protection order June 13 against Schmidt, whom she identified in the court petition as an ex-boyfriend and ex-employee.
Schmidt remains housed in the Butler County Jail and his cases are pending consideration by a grand jury.
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