Jimmy Dimora Sentenced to 28 Years

Former commissioner denies doing anything illegal

Dimora's Pension Deal 'Sickening,' Dovilla Says

State rep pushes to strip convicted public officials of their retirement benefits

In the wake of former County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora's corruption trial, State Rep. Mike Dovilla, R-18, is pushing for approval of legislation that would take away public officials' pensions if they are convicted of extortion or perjury. Dovilla, a primary sponsor of House Bill 323, said he was angered when he learned Dimora's lawyers cut a deal with federal prosecutors that allows him to forfeit his commissioner’s pension, valued at $122,383, in exchange for reduced jail time. "The fact that Jimmy Dimora was able to use his public pension as a bargaining chip for reduced jail time or other benefits is not only sickening but is a blemish on our democracy," Dovilla said in a news release. HB 323 would automatically strip public officials …

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Jimmy Dimora Guilty: News Roundup

Former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora was found guilty on 33 of 34 counts in an Akron court today. Here is our roundup of the headlines.

Jimmy Dimora is guilty. That's big news in Cuyahoga County, where he was a county commissioner for years. Here's a roundup of stories about today's guilty verdict. See a good story about the Dimora trial or verdict? Tell us in the comments, and leave a link, and we'll add it to the list.

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Dimora Witness Accuses Ohio Sen. Tom Patton of Bribery; Patton Denies It

The Plain Dealer reports that State Sen. Tom Patton, who lives in Strongsville and represents Solon, was accused during the Jimmy Dimora trial of paying a $10,000 bribe to help a company win a copier contract. Patton denies the allegation.

The Plain Dealer reported that a witness in the Jimmy Dimora corruption trial said he accepted a bribe from State Sen. Tom Patton, who lives in Strongsville and represents Solon. Patton denied the allegation when he spoke to the newspaper. "I flatly deny it," the Strongsville Republican told the Plain Dealer. "I don't have $10,000 to give anybody. It just didn't happen." The allegation came from J. Kevin Kelley, a former school board member in Parma. Kelley testified that the bribe was intended to help a company Patton consults for win a paper copier contract. Read the entire story at the Plain Dealer.

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