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HAMILTON — Friends and foes of iconic Butler County political fixture Michael Fox are looking eagerly ahead to his day in court.
But after the recent high-profile trial of former Dynus Corp. owner Orlando Carter — which came more than a year after his indictment — no one knows how soon justice will be served.
Fox — former county commissioner, state lawmaker and Children Services director — and Columbus attorney Robert C. Schuler face felony charges the U.S. Attorney’s office says amount to “public corruption.”
These include allegations that Fox accepted money from contractors working for the county when he was county commissioner and didn’t properly report the income. Schuler is alleged to have funneled Fox more than $460,000 while his fiber optics company NORMAP had a contract worth $1.8 million.
The charges were outlined in an indictment filed Oct. 7 but unsealed Thursday, Oct. 29.
U.S. Assistant Attorney Jennifer Barry said in court at the initial appearance of Fox and Schuler Thursday that an arraignment is expected within two weeks. That is where Fox and Schuler would plead their innocence or guilt, and is planned to take place before Magistrate Judge Timothy Hogan in Cincinnati federal court.
Fox’s attorney Ralph Kohnen has hinted they’ll fight the eight-county indictment. He said the charges are “overreaching” and have “political” origins.
The FBI investigation that led to Fox’s indictment began in 2005 when the company Dynus took out a multi-million dollar loan in Butler County’s name without county approval. Carter was found guilty this year of charges including bank fraud from the deal, but he and former county auditor Kay Rogers — who pleaded guilty in the Dynus scandal more than a year ago — are still awaiting sentencing.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or jsweigart@coxohio.com.
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