Bill Mason Talks to Patch about Regrets, the Future and Whether He Will Run for Office Again

A portrait of the Cuyahoga County prosecutor as he leaves the post he's held for 14 years

In Bill Mason's childhood home in Parma, "laid back" was not an option. With 16 kids in the family, you had to fight for pretty much everything you wanted -- even dinner. "We ate at 5 o'clock on the button, and if you weren't there, you were out of luck," Mason recalls. "My mom would try to save you some, but usually, it was gone." There's no doubt in his mind that growing up in an every-kid-for-himself home helped shape the man he became.  For one thing, he's prompt -- go figure.   But that crowded Parma house, filled with brothers who won state wrestling titles, also instilled drive and determination.  "There was more competition growing up in my home than out in the world," he laughs.  Mason steps down this week as Cuyahoga County …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (2)

Steve

7:18 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012

Yea, from a family of 16.... He knew but didn't want to 'rock the boat' just like all the other Dem's here that look the other way, unless it suits their needs, not OUR'S... Not a hater, just telling it like it is and was long before they got caught. No thanks, Bill.   more ›

Bill Mason to Step Down as Prosecutor

Will join Cleveland law firm

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason will resign from office at the end of September and take a job at the Cleveland law firm of Bricker & Eckler. Mason was not seeking re-election to another four-year term. Two people are running in the Nov. 6 general election to succeed him -- former Judge Timothy McGinty, a Democrat, and Edward Wade Jr. Mason, who has served as county prosecutor since 1999, said in a statement today that he has met the three goals he established when he took office: take a tough stance on crime; create a community-based prosecution unit; and operate an efficient, effective and transparent office.   "My office has prosecuted over 200,000 criminal cases with a 92 percent conviction rate — the national average is 68 …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Defendant Pleads Not Guilty in Mortgage Fraud Case

Woman and title company charged in Strongsville man's scheme

A woman indicted in connection with mortgage fraud scheme orchestrated by Fred Loewinger of Strongsville pleaded not guilty Wednesday. Donna Sherman and her title company both pleaded not guilty to charges of mortgage fraud involving $1.4 million in loans for 21 houses, according to Ryan Miday, spokesman for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason. Bond was set at $15,000.  Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Judge Jose Villanueva was assigned to the case. Sherman’s case was investigated by the Cleveland office of the FBI in connection with their participation in the Mortgage Fraud Task Force.  Sherman, of Middleburg Heights, and her company were indicted by a grand jury on 46 felony counts, including charges of engaging in a pattern of …

• Photos (1)

Sniper Suspect Still Not Competent for Trial

Paul Hausmann will return to treatment center

The man accused of terrorizing several Strongsville and Berea neighborhoods with sniper shots in 2009 and 2010 was found incompetent to stand trail. Ryan Miday, spokesman for  Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason, said a psychiatric report from the  Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court found Paul Hausmann not yet competent to answer for his alleged actions. But the report said he is "restorable with an appropriate level of anti-psychotic medications," Miday said. Hausmann is set to be returned to Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare for restoration treatment, and a judge will later revisit his status. Hausmann, 66, of Steven David Drive, faces 36 counts in connection with sniper fire between May 2009 and January 2010. He was referred by the …

• Photos (1)

McDanels To Repay Money, Spend Time in Prison

Former Altenheim director expected to serve 2-3 years

Gregory McDanels pleaded guilty today to stealing money from his former employer, the Altenheim Skilled Nursing Facility. As part of the plea arrangement, McDanels, the former executive director of the facility, agreed to repay $290,000 and to incarceration of two to three years, according to Ryan Miday, spokesman for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason. The charge carries a maximum term of five years. The length of the prison term will be decided April 15 by Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Peter Corrigan. McDanels, 49, of Bay Village, was indicted on one count of theft, a third-degree felony, alleging he embezzled $500,000 between 2001 and 2008 by giving himself giving himself unauthorized bonuses, altering records and issuing …

• Photos (1)

Former Altenheim Director Pleads Not Guilty to Theft

Gregory McDanels set for pre-trial Thursday

Gregory McDanels pleaded not guilty this morning to one count of theft for allegedly embezzling $500,000 from the Altenheim Skilled Nursing Facility while he worked there as executive director. Bond was set at $50,000, according to Ryan Miday, spokesman for  Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Peter Corrigan was assigned to the case. The first pre-trial is scheduled for Thursday, March 3. Gregory McDanels, 49, who lives in Bay Village, allegedly stole money from his employer between 2001 and 2008 by giving himself giving himself unauthorized bonuses, altering records and issuing unauthorized reimbursement checks. The bulk of the offenses stem from using the company's credit card for personal expenses …

• Photos (2)

Former Altenheim Director Charged With Embezzling $500,000

Nursing home executive faces third-degree felony

The former executive director of the Altenheim Skilled Nursing Facility has been charged with theft for allegedly embezzling $500,000 from the company. Gregory McDanels, 49, who lives in Bay Village, allegedly stole money from his employer between 2001 and 2008, according to Ryan Miday, spokesman for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason. Miday said McDanels is accused of giving himself unauthorized bonuses, altering records and issuing unauthorized reimbursement checks. The bulk of the offenses stem from using the company's credit card for personal expenses like car repairs and clothing, and forging checks to pay off personal debts, like credit card bills, Miday said. He is also charge with stealing $4,100 from a resident fund, in which …

• Photos (3)

Strongsville Man Gets Six Years in Prison for Mortgage Fraud

Fred Loewinger is also ordered to repay $1.4 million to victims

 Fred Loewinger of Strongsville has been sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to pay $1.4 million in restitution for mortgage fraud, according to County Prosecutor Bill Mason. Loewinger pleaded guilty on Oct. 27 to 25 felony mortgage fraud-related offenses for his participation in financing the purchase of 20 houses with $1.4 million in fraudulent loans. Loewinger, 62, owned Fast Mortgage Services, Inc. and conducted his fraudulent activities as a licensed mortgage broker and loan officer. This case was investigated by the Cleveland Office of the FBI in connection with their participation in the Cuyahoga County Mortgage Fraud Task Force. Loewinger was the main defendant in a criminal enterprise that involved 13 co-defendants who …

• Photos (1)

Strongsville Man to be Sentenced for Fraud

Fred Loewinger pleaded guilty to theft by deception, other charges

A Strongsville man convicted of buying houses with fraudulent loans is scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday. Fred Loewinger will appear before Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Timothy McCormick at 10 a.m., according to Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason. Loewinger, 62, of Strongsville, was the main defendant in a criminal enterprise that involved 20 houses purchased with fraudulent loans totaling $1.4 million. Loewinger orchestrated this criminal enterprise while he was a licensed loan officer and owner of Fast Mortgage and the owner of MJL Processing, Ltd. Inc. He submitted the fraudulent loans to the lenders, arranged for bogus down payments, and then deposited kickback money into his companies’ accounts. The money was then distributed…

Prosecutor: Don't Let Your Child Become a Cyber Victim

Mason offers tips on how to protect kids from Internet predators

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason is offering advice to parents on how to protect their children from becoming victims of Internet predators. Mason, whose office last week charged 30 people, including three juveniles, with child pornography crimes, said his message is especially timely with kids off school for winter break and time on their hands to explore the Web. "The demand for child pornography is immense —it is a $1 billion industry in the U.S.," Mason said. "Twenty-seven adults were indicted for downloading and sharing these images and videos over the Internet, including a minister who preaches at a church in Olmsted Falls. " Mason chairs the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, formed in Cleveland in …

• Photos (1)