Court records: Former Butler County Auditor Reynolds wants conviction reversed
Former Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds is seeking to have his felony conviction overturned, according to a court document filed Thursday in Butler County Common Pleas Court.
Following a seven-day trial, Reynolds was convicted on Dec. 21 of one count of unlawful interest in a public contract, a fourth-degree felony. The charge was related to Reynolds advocating for a private golf academy at Four Bridges County Club with tax money Lakota Schools received from the auditor's office.
Reynolds was acquitted of four other charges related to public corruption.
In the recent court filing, Reynolds' attorney, Chad Ziepfel, argued the court should reverse the conviction for three reasons:
There's no evidence that any contract was authorized between the school district and Four Bridges Country Club.
Because no contract was authorized, and never made it past preliminary stages, there isn't evidence that such a contract would've been a "public contract."
There's no evidence Reynolds used the authority or influence of the auditor's office to secure the authorization of any contract.
"Mr. Reynolds never made any threats, promises, or any other statements even suggesting that he was using his authority or influence as the Butler County Auditor to 'secure authorization' of the training facility," the court filing reads.
In 2017, Reynolds suggested using money the auditor's office had returned to Lakota schools to build a golf academy at Four Bridges Country Club. Reynolds’ daughter was on Lakota East’s girls' golf team at the time.
Ziepfel has said Reynolds' idea for the Lakota schools' golf academy, "died on its own."
Reynolds was reelected as the county auditor in November. Because he was convicted of a felony, he cannot serve as auditor. Convicted felons cannot hold an office of honor, trust or profit, under Ohio law.
The Board of Butler County Commissioners late last month appointed an interim auditor who will hold office until the Butler County Republican Party chooses someone to serve out the remainder of Reynolds' term.
State law requires that the party's central committee meet to appoint a replacement between five and 45 days after the seat becomes vacant.
Butler County Republican Party Chair Todd Hall told The Enquirer that the party plans to wait until after Reynolds' sentencing to appoint his replacement.
Enquirer reporter Erin Glynn contributed reporting.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Former Butler County Auditor Reynolds wants conviction reversed
