Nick McWilliams reporting – Richard Homrighausen is subject to thousands of dollars in fines, stemming from weddings fees he pocketed.
The former Dover mayor, who is now barred from holding office in Ohio for life following a jury finding him guilty of a felony theft-in-office count, will not be subject to jail time as a part of the sentence from Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Judge Elizabeth Thomakos.
Instead, Homrighausen must pay $9,295 in restitution to the city of Dover — the total of the wedding fees that were never properly submitted to the treasurer, plus $2,665 in costs for a state audit conducted by state auditor.
Defense Attorney Mark DeVan argued that Homrighausen should be subject to only $240 for the theft in office, due to only being found guilty of four instances of improperly handled wedding fees that were not deposited to the treasury in Dover. Thomakos ultimately went with the state’s request to charge the former mayor with the full amount.
“I would find that the evidence presented at trial supports a restitution figure of $9,295. I recognize as well that the jury issued a special verdict on count one [theft in office] indicating the amount of the theft was less than $1,000, however, I am persuaded by the state’s argument.”
For the theft in office count, he must pay a $2,500 fine, along with $500 for each of the four counts of soliciting improper compensation counts he was found guilty of, and $750 for a single count of dereliction of duty.
The fines, penalties, and restitutions total $17,210, not including court costs, which he will also be required to pay.
DeVan objected to the restitutions and said he plans to file an appeal of the sentencing on behalf of Homrighausen.
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