Ohio Supreme Court won't hear Richard Homrighausen's appeal of theft in office conviction

COLUMBUS ‒ The Ohio Supreme Court will not be hearing former Dover Mayor Richard Homrighausen's appeal of his theft in office conviction.

Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy and four of the justices declined to hear the appeal, according to a court announcement on Tuesday. Justices Patrick F. Fischer and Jennifer Brunner dissented, signaling that they would accept the appeal.

Homrighausen was convicted in November 2022 in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court of theft in office, dereliction of duty and four counts of soliciting improper compensation related to fees he collected for officiating at weddings while mayor.

At his sentencing, Common Pleas Judge Elizabeth Lehigh Thomakos ordered Homrighausen to pay a total of $9,295 in fees he collected for performing 231 wedding ceremonies, a figure derived from a state audit. He was also ordered to pay the cost of the audit ($2,665), a fine of $2,500 for theft in office, a fine of $500 for each count of soliciting improper compensation and a $750 fine for dereliction of duty.

Homrighausen is also permanently barred from public office because of the theft in office conviction.

He appealed his conviction to the Fifth District Court of Appeals in February 2023. In January the Court of Appeals upheld his theft in office conviction.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Court won't hear Homrighausen's appeal of theft in office conviction