Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Read it for yourself.

http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/news/updates/4115.html

Fairfield County is ''Lucky''

McAuliffe guilty in arson
Former municipal court judge may look to appeal conviction
By CARL BURNETT JR.
The Eagle-Gazette Staff; cburnett@nncogannett.com

Columbus -- Former Fairfield Municipal Court Judge Don McAuliffe was convicted Friday of conspiring to burn down his home near Millersport in 2002 and collecting $235,000 in insurance money for it.
A 12-person federal jury took seven hours to reach its verdict.
McAuliffe, 58, Millersport, allegedly used the insurance money to pay off the mortgage on the house that burned down and to purchase a new home.
The jury found him guilty on two counts of mail fraud, one count of using fire to commit a felony (arson), one count of conspiracy and two counts of money laundering. They also convicted him on a forfeiture count seeking $235,000, two parcels of land and a vehicle that represented the proceeds of the crimes.
The trial began in U.S. District Court on Jan. 26 and went to the jury after final arguments were given Thursday. U.S. District Court Judge Algenon L. Marbley said a sentencing hearing will be held within 35 days.
Throughout the reading of the verdict, McAuliffe sat flanked by his two attorneys and showed no emotion.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin W. Kelley said he was happy about the verdict.
''A lot of credit belongs to the (Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) and (Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation),'' Kelley said ''Their agents helped us throughout the investigation and throughout the trial. The jury also did a good job. Obviously they were paying close attention during the trial.''
Sam Weiner, McAuliffe's defense attorney, said he had hoped the jury would have listened to the tape recordings of conversations between McAuliffe and his girlfriend closer during deliberations.
''But we accept the jury verdict,'' Weiner said. ''We will be looking at appealing it.''
Weiner said McAuliffe felt Friday that the verdict was going to go against him.
''I think he was resigned to the fact that it wasn't going to be good,'' Weiner said.
McAuliffe is looking at a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 20 years in prison and up to $1 million in fines.
McAuliffe was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 24, 2003, following a five-month investigation by the ATF, the Ohio BCI&I and the Ohio Department of Insurance.
Don Mapley, resident agent in charge of the ATF, said Friday the agency also was pleased with the way the verdict turned out.
''I listened to five hours of testimony and I don't think the jury believed (McAuliffe),'' Mapley said.
Mapley said the cooperation between the agencies had been excellent.
Weiner and U.S. Assistant District Attorney David DeVillers said McAuliffe will be held in the Franklin County Jail until the sentencing is held.
''As a former judge, the Bureau of Prisons is going to have to be careful where they place him,'' Weiner said. ''He would have to have special placement where he wouldn't be placed with people that would be harboring a grudge against judges.''
Originally published Saturday, February 14, 2004

What Double Speak !!



McAuliffe?’s defense team sounds like the former Judge

''But we accept the jury verdict,'' Weiner said. ''We will be looking at appealing it.''

Also sounds like those Republican Executive Committee TEAM that keep trying to keep us from paying attention to their support of this convicted ?– now awaiting sentencing - former Judge.


By double talkers

time to pay

how about for every appeal that the former judge doesn't win he gets to pay for the county's court costs in addition to his own.