Special prosecutors apparently intend to re-try suspended juvenile court judge Tracie Hunter on the eight felony counts that were declared a mistrial last fall when jurors couldn’t reach a verdict on them.
Hunter was convicted on one count of unlawful interest in a public contract and was sentenced to six months in jail and six months probation. She is appealing that conviction. Hunter is free on her own recognizance during the appeal.
A court hearing for plea or trial setting is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 21 on the other eight felony charges in the courtroom of Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Patrick Dinkelacker, who took over recently for the trial judge in the Hunter case, Norbert Nadel, who has retired from the bench.
Hunter’s trial attorney, Clyde Bennett II, told WVXU that he and Hunter are “ready, willing and able” to fight for an acquittal in a new trial.
Bennett said the trial would ask the court to change the venue of the trial from Hamilton County, where he said his client could not get a fair trial. Bennett tried that in the original criminal trial; and Nadel turned down his motion.
Neither of the special prosecutors in the case, R. Scott Croswell III or Merlyn Shiverdecker, could be reached for comment immediately.
