The city’s former longtime mayor is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal of his 2022 conviction for theft in office.
Attorneys for Richard Homrighausen on September 30th filed a petition for a writ of certiorari – a request to the Supreme Court to review Homrighausen’s appeal that so far has been rejected by a local appeals court and the Ohio Supreme Court.
A jury almost two years ago convicted Homrighausen of felony theft in office, soliciting improper compensation, and other counts for pocketing wedding fees during his time as mayor.
His attorneys have continued to argue that Homrighausen was a victim of his political rivals who took advantage when the eight-term mayor was in poor health. They say no one took issue with Homrighausen accepting wedding payments for 28 years.
They have asked for an acquittal and a new trial, claiming the verdicts violated Homrighausen’s constitutional rights. The Supreme Court is expected to respond by November 1st.
In the meantime, Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court has set a $1,000 per month payment plan for Homrighausen to pay the $19,000 in fines and restitution he owes the state and city.
Homrighausen is also appealing a judge’s ruling in a separate civil case where the city is suing him for over $100,000. Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Ernest ruled Homrighausen must reimburse Dover for an eight-month paid suspension and for additional wedding payments he pocketed.
That appeal is now being considered by the local Fifth District Court of Appeals.
Copyright WTUZ Radio Inc., 2024