Mark Haney in court Tuesday with his attorney Christopher Delacruz and prosecutor Thomas Anger.
Uhrichsville’s former mayor will serve 10 days in jail, spend 60 days on house arrest and pay $16,000 in restitution for improperly using city funds.
Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Ernest sentenced former mayor Mark Haney on Tuesday two months after Haney pleaded guilty to felony theft and soliciting improper compensation.
Ernest heard from two of Haney’s former city co-workers, his sister and a friend and colleague, who all praised his character and dedication to the community.
Former Uhrichsville Service Director Belle Everett asked the judge not to convict Haney of a felony, saying she never saw him intentionally acted against the city, its employees or its citizens.
Ernest said it was too late for that because Haney had already pleaded guilty.
“There is no chance, though, that there is some scenario here where in which he will not leave a convicted felon,” Ernest said.
Ernest said there were certain aspects of the case that he could not overlook when considering a sentence.
“The auditor’s office came up with 18 meetings … that you did not attend but you were compensated mileage for going,” Ernest said. “That really strains credibility … It’s a little hard to overcome in my mind that that is just a mistake.”
He also questioned the purchase of personal items using a city credit card.
“I have no idea why anyone – it’s clearly a recipe for problems as to why people when, while they’re shopping for the government entity,…why they then throw a couple of items on the register as well and they’ll take care of it later. [That] is just asking for problems, Mr. Haney.”
Haney said he pleaded guilty in part because former Uhrichsville Auditor Michael Mauer, who could have defended him, died in 2024. He also said he couldn’t afford a legal battle. Haney suggested current Mayor Jim Zucal played a part in the indictment.
“He told me then if I didn’t get rid of Ms. Everett and I didn’t discipline certain people that he was going to make my life miserable,” Haney said.
“I’m willing to take whatever punishment I have to take to pay back the money that I was overpaid supposedly, but I feel all the rest of it is nonsense.”
Ernest gave Haney 30 days to work out when he would serve the 10-day jail sentence.
The conviction also carries a seven-year ban from public office. The original charges included theft in office, which carries a lifetime ban, but that charge was reduced as part of the plea agreement.
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