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PORTSMOUTH POLICE CHIEF HORNER AND MAYOR BAUER SUED.

This suit may shed light on Sgt. Powell Story.

By Doug Deepe, Investigative Reporter

(Posted 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 16, 2003)

Timothy J. Storey of 1648 Highland Avenue, Portsmouth, Ohio filed a civil suit against Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner and Mayor Greg Bauer yesterday in Scioto County Common Pleas Court, case number 03CIH170.

Storey’s suit claims that Storey took the Civil Service Exam for the position of police recruit with the Portsmouth Police Department on or about August 2002. Storey’s raw score on the exam outscored the other applicants by 13%. Storey was initially placed second on the eligibility list but was bumped to the first position because the top candidate was eliminated because of his age.

In September 2002 Storey claims that at his own expense he took the Ohio Peace Officer Training course and was certified as a peace officer. This was accomplished to further qualify him for a position with the Portsmouth Police Department.

In October of 2002 Storey was notified that his name was certified to Mayor Bauer for consideration for a vacancy in the Portsmouth Police Department.

In December 2002, Mayor Bauer requested a new Civil Service Examination for the Police Officer position despite the fact that a sufficient eligibility list was in effect. The list included Storey.

Pursuant to the Portsmouth Police Officer Hiring Policy, Storey was given a group interview by agents of Chief Horner and Mayor Bauer in February 2003 and given and passed a surprise urine test. Storey then received an individual interview, took and passed the physical agility test and was in all respects the most qualified applicant, Storey was also a veteran from military service.

Storey was not hired. Chief Horner and Mayor Bauer hired the seventh ranked candidate on the list an individual that Storey believes is less qualified. (The Sentinel has reviewed both men’s qualifications and we agree with Storey.)

In June 2003 Storey met with Mayor Bauer and tried to resolve this issue short of filing a civil suit. Bauer refused to stop Horner’s hiring of the lesser qualified candidate.

Storey claims that Horner, Bauer and Solicitor David Kuhn will not provide Storey with reasons why Storey was not hired.

On June 27, 2003, Storey was called back in for another interview and told that he (Storey) would have to take a new physical fitness test to qualify as a police officer, a fitness test never offered before to any other Portsmouth police officer. Storey believes the test is designed to make him fail and give Horner and Bauer a reason for not hiring Storey.

This suit is going to be crucial to both Storey and New Boston Police Sgt. Matt Powell. The number seven candidate on the list hired by Chief Horner was New Boston Police Officer Tom Lancaster, Sgt. Powell’s former partner.

Someone at the Portsmouth Police Department is now giving out names of drug informants for the New Boston Police Department. Wonder who that could be?

It appears that Storey lost his chance to get a job with the Portsmouth Police Department because Chief Horner felt it was more imperative to have Officer Lancaster’s knowledge about Sgt. Matt Powell to stop Sgt. Powell’s lawsuits against Chief Horner, rather than hiring the "best qualified" candidate. It seems that Horner’s actions are either unethical or illegal and just led to another lawsuit that the taxpayers must pay to defend.

The Chief Horner and Sgt. Matt Powell matter is boarding on comical, except for the fact that Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner and his protégé Captain David Thoroughman are spending hundreds of man hours working on Sgt. Matt Powell.

BCII is here so let them investigate Sgt. Matt Powell. If Sgt. Powell is guilty of any crime then indict him and get it before a jury of his peers.

That’s where this case should have been since April, with BCII, not New Boston or the Portsmouth Police Departments.

Chief Horner, Assistant Scioto County Prosecutor Rick Brown and New Boston Police Chief Darrold Clark were seen outside the New Boston Village Offices tonight after the Village Council meeting. Why is it so imperative that Chief Horner go dressed in his uniform to New Boston Village meetings driving a Portsmouth City vehicle?

There is one big question that has to be asked to the Scioto County Prosecutors and it is this: Your office is investigating grand jury testimony concerning Sgt. Matt Powell. Who in your office Mr. Rumble told Chief Horner about Sgt. Matt Powell’s grand jury testimony in the Donald Murphy case? Rumble admitted it was the Donald Murphy case and this case has not been tried. Therefore, nobody should have a clue except your office Mr. Rumble about what Sgt. Powell said or didn’t say behind those closed doors of the Scioto County Grand Jury. How did Chief Horner know what to bring to you unless someone in your office provided him with information? Isn’t tampering with Grand Jury information illegal?

You better remember that when you seek your indictment against Sgt. Powell because who ever leaked that information faces possible disciplinary action. That information may be barred at trial when any attorney for Sgt. Powell gets your employees under oath to find out where the leak is at.

Chief Horner is going to lose one of these suits and the taxpayers will foot the bill again in higher premiums. It’s obvious Chief Horner doesn’t care about the taxpayers, Storey or anyone else when it comes to covering himself.

Just look at the officer he hired over Storey. A man with 7 F’s at Shawnee State University in his last three quarters of attendance. Storey had a 3.4 G.P.A. in college course work and was willing to take a $3.00 an hour pay cut from his job at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility to join the Portsmouth Police Department.

When it comes to qualifications and choosing the best candidate to protect the citizens of Portsmouth, Chief Horner’s administrative skills must be questioned. When all the qualifications are available for me to post in the next day or two, the people of Portsmouth will understand that Chief Horner didn’t choose Officer Lancaster for being better qualified. So why the choice of Lancaster over Storey?

Do we really need to say it?

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CITY SERVICE EMPLOYEE "THE MOLE" SAYS BLACKBURN CONTEMPLATING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THOSE THAT "LIBELED" HIM. WHAT A JOKE.

"Mr. Blackburn, I’ll pay your court filing fee just to get into your bank account so email me back and let’ get the suit filed."

Doug Deepe

(posted 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 12, 2003)

An individual we call the "mole" in the Portsmouth City Service Department alerted the Sentinel that Portsmouth City Service Director Mike Blackburn is contemplating moving to Chillicothe to a new job and then filing a lawsuit against the Portsmouth Daily Times, the Sentinel and Assistant Scioto County Prosecutor Bill Shaw for libelous statement we have made against Blackburn.

If Mr. Blackburn reads this (and he must if he’s planning to sue us) please do me a favor. Send us the filing fee for your court suit and we will send you a certified check to pay the filing fee.

The Sentinel staff and this writer would love nothing more than to get you in a lawsuit where you are required by law to open up that bank account to allow us to see your other purchases. I personally want you under oath to explain your cell phone bills and ask you why you didn’t reimburse the City of Portsmouth for the personal calls (which you might have done after our revelation).

Your suit would allow us the opportunity to depose that boss of yours, Mayor Greg Bauer too.

I would love nothing better than to force you both into turning over every contract, ordinance and supporting documentation on projects that are suspicious.

You should also be aware that once you file suit, we can depose all of your workers about things such as "horse feed" in the City Service Department Garage, and we would get to take a look at that infamous computer to see how much work on the hard drive is city work and how much is your personal business.

It would also be fun to get Bill Shaw under oath and find out why he didn’t try to prosecute you.

We were sued before and we’re still here without losing a dime.

The big differences in your threat of suit and the other suit are this; we have our proof on everything we’ve written. You are a "crook". You’re boss is a proven liar both on the radio and in print. Many of your employee’s hate the corruption they have seen with your misuse of city property. Finally, we can investigate the connection you have with a big city contractor. Pictures say it all.

So don’t sit out there and rant and rave about filing a suit. Do it. Just email us where you want our certified check sent and the name of the court you want to sue us in so we can pay it.

You’ve ripped off the taxpayers enough.

D D (posted 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 8, 2003)

PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS: THE BEST "SCRIPT" IN TOWN

"Council could telephone in votes and save on utility bills"

By Doug Deepe, Investigative Reporter

City Council routinely "rubber stamps" Greg Bauer’s requests.

Over the last month Sentinel reporters have sat and watched the manner in which Portsmouth City Council passes Portsmouth legislative actions and we’ve discovered one thing, "it’s the best script in town." Do the individuals on Portsmouth City Council really believe that the people that take time to come watch these "emergency ordinances" you’re passing don’t realize the snow job you’re pulling on the taxpayers?

It’s a shame that in the last two council meetings so called "emergency ordinances" have been brought out and added to the agenda and immediately passed by Portsmouth City Council preventing any community discussion on those issues.

Even when an "emergency ordinance" is placed out on the table for adding to the agenda, council members rarely have a single question about the "emergency ordinance". How can that be? If it’s an emergency, at a minimum shouldn’t someone on council ask, why? Watching these elected officials in action it’s easy to understand why there are no questions asked; council members script the sessions before hand.

Last night Portsmouth City Council put out the Adelphia Cable emergency ordinance, suspended the Portsmouth City Charter Rules requiring that an ordinance be read on three (3) separate occasions, and immediately moved to a final vote, passing the ordinance. No where on the agenda was this item found before the meeting nor was there any information made available to the citizens in attendance to review the ordinance before council voted to approve the ordinance.

Portsmouth City Clerk Joann Aeh handed Jeff Barron of the Portsmouth Daily Times and Sam McKibben of WNXT radio station what appeared to be copies of all the emergency ordinances. Wonder why you didn’t read or hear about that in those media outlets today?

Two weeks ago Sentinel reporters provided all Portsmouth City Council Members with copies of the illegal computer purchase documentation used by Portsmouth City Service Department Director Mike Blackburn. All six members of Portsmouth City Council stated, to Sentinel personnel, that they had never previously been provided the documentation about the purchase of the computer by Blackburn.

However, last night, after having nearly two weeks to read the documents and seek information from Mike Blackburn, the Mayor, and/or the Auditor, not a single council member addressed the issue publicly.

This lack of knowledge by council members can be remedied if the members would only ask for information. All documents of the City of Portsmouth are public information, available to anyone.

All council members could have received all the documented information that has been printed on the Sentinel website or in the Portsmouth Daily News by merely asking the City Auditor for the information. By law, it is the Auditor’s duty to provide public information to anyone who asks.

If the members of city council want to continue to enjoy the honor and benefits of being council members, they should respect themselves, and the citizens they represent, enough to make an effort to become aware of the facts before they vote.

It appears that many of the council members do not want to be informed; they also do not want to inform any citizens of their reasons or motives for the votes they cast at council meetings.

Last night Fifth Ward Councilman Howard Baughman asked Portsmouth City Council to declare an emergency, and award a contract to Benco Dental as the "lowest and best bidder for CAO Dental Clinic." First Ward Council Lady Ann Sydnor asked Mayor Greg Bauer, "This is the best bid, isn’t it?" Mayor Bauer responded, "Yes." Sydnor followed up and asked how many bids were received on the ordinance. Mayor Bauer turned red faced and told Sydnor "I don’t know how many bids we had." Sydnor pressed the issue and Bauer finally said, "We only had one bid."

After being lied to by Mayor Bauer, First Ward Council Member Sydnor smiled; she said nothing to the Mayor about the mis-information the Mayor had just told her. Portsmouth City Council Vice President Raymond Pyles looked at the crowd in attendance and shook his head at the exchange. Yet, with only one bidder, no other council member asked a single question about the ordinance; the Portsmouth City Charter rules were suspended and this ordinance was immediately passed.

Council is a "rubber stamp" for Mayor Greg Bauer.

It’s obvious that Portsmouth City Council has been, and will continue to be, a "rubber stamp" for Mayor Greg Bauer, so, why don’t members of council do the honorable thing, just call in your votes and save the electricity and wear on the air conditioner in Judge Kegley’s Courtroom. (posted 8:55 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, 2003)

PORTSMOUTH CITY SERVICE DIRECTOR MIKE BLACKBURN’S
CELL PHONE BILLS SHOW POSSIBLE THEFT OF MORE CITY FUNDS

"It appears Blackburn’s City Cell Phone is being used for personal business"

By Doug Deepe, Investigative Reporter

The Sentinel has obtained copies of Portsmouth City Service Director Mike Blackburn’s cell phone bills and uncovered another possible unethical and/or illegal telephone calls made by Blackburn. There doesn’t appear to be anything on the paid bills stamped by the Portsmouth City Auditor’s Office that would indicate that

Blackburn paid the City of Portsmouth back for these phone calls on a Portsmouth City cell phone.

We did a quick overview of Blackburn’s Portsmouth City cell phone bills and found the following examples of misuse of the cell phone by Blackburn.

There are numerous calls made to Blackburn’s home telephone number 740-776-4101. Many of these calls were billed at a rate of $.40 to $2.00 per call.

Other questionable calls are to the following numbers:

740-356-8669 Cardiac Cath Lab $.40 per call

740-354-7711 Ramada Inn $.40 to $.80 per call

740-574-6762 Head Lines Hair Salon, Wheelersburg $.40 to $.80 per call

There are hundreds of calls on Blackburn’s Portsmouth City cell phone records. We are currently using the internet to find more cases of personal calls, not business calls on Blackburn’s city cell phone bill.

Up until the middle of February 2003, Blackburn’s cell phone bills were costing the City of Portsmouth between $35 and $45 per month.

Blackburn’s March 2003 Portsmouth City cell phone bill jumped up to $238.94; while his April 2003 city cell phone bill was $144.18.

Mike Blackburn is apparently is deep financial difficulties. According to records from the Scioto County Clerk of Court’s Office Mike Blackburn was sued in a Complaint in Foreclosure by the First National Bank Association Trust & Fairbanks Capital Corporation of Hatboro, PA on 11/08/02. On 05/09/03 the case was dismissed. See Case Number 02CIE00252 @ www.sciotocountycpcourt.org

The Sentinel has revealed to our readers the numerous illegal issues surrounding Portsmouth City Service Director Mike Blackburn. What does Blackburn have on Portsmouth City Officials that he can continue to misuse city funds?

It’s more than time for a special prosecutor to get involved. How many other city employees are allowed to bill the City of Portsmouth for personal phone calls at taxpayer expense? Maybe this is an area that the Ohio State Auditor needs to review while they investigate other matters surrounding Blackburn.

We will continue to update you on the Blackburn case. We at the Sentinel are positive that Mayor Bauer will once again tell you that "it’s a done deal and he disciplined Blackburn".   We would love to know what Blackburn has on Mayor Bauer? Wouldn’t you? DD

Big news again, read the revealing front-page article by Reporter Jeff Barron, May 3l, 2003.       Don't miss the stirring editorial on page eight (8) of the PORTSMOUTH DAILY TIMES, Saturday, MAY 31, 2003.

Mayor Greg Bauer is Number One on Front-Page in the Corruption Section of the News again. He and his "good ole' buddy" City Service Director Michael E. Blackburn have been caught, again.  This theft is well documented in City records, bank records and correspondence from a leasing company.  As usual, Bauer was involved in the crookery, and is trying to cover for himself and Blackburn.

Greg Bauer, Police Chief Horner, Sheriff Donini and Mike Blackburn have been regulars in corruption news, for too many years..

Only yesterday Mayor Bauer, and Bauer's personally endorsed, and  appointed Chief of Police Charles Horner, were sued again, this time by a New Boston Police Sergeant, who claims improper, and criminal, acts by city officials have damaged him.  County Sheriff Marty Donini, who is a very close associate with Mayor Bauer and Chief Horner, was also included in this law suit.

How long will it be before City Solicitor David Kuhn asks for a Special Prosecutor to investigate?   Most citizens of Portsmouth have long been aware of criminal actions by officials in City Hall. 

To provide a thorough investigation, and to avoid any possible conflict of interest, the Solicitor's Office will likely obtain outside investigation by a Special Prosecutor.   Any fair, and complete investigation of City Hall criminal activities will require long, long days of serious research and inquiry by a skilled, unbiased examiner. . . . . DD

(11:02  p.m. Thursday, May 29, 2003.)                     Latest information received by the Sentinel indicates that both Mayor Greg Bauer and City Service Director Mike Blackburn may be wearing orange jump suits, standing before the Judge.  Watch this site for more revelations, coming soon. .................................... 

(10:25 a.m. Friday, May 23, 2003)......Examination of campaign contributions raises serious questions of integrity.  Are Portsmouth city contracts for sale to big campaign donors?       

(8:25 a.m. Thursday, May 22, 2003)  State Auditor is already auditing City expenditures.  Documents sent by Sentinel to Ohio Auditor on tax evasion charges against Mike Blackburn. ................................More crime in City hall.   "It's a done deal,"  said Greg Bauer to Sentinel reporters, when asked about fraudulent action of City Service Director Mike Blackburn. ........."I don't have to explain anything to any citizen."

Did Companies Get Special Favors if They Contributed to

Money to Mayor Greg Bauer’s Election Committee in 2001?

Was Mayor Greg Bauer’s 2001 campaign operated within the laws of the Portsmouth City Charter and the Ohio Revised Code? Some people think not.

The Sentinel obtained copies the statement of contributions received by the "Committee to Keep Bauer Mayor" and found some very interesting information.

Coca Cola Enterprise Inc, located in Atlanta Georgia, gave Bauer’s committee a check for $250.00 and registered it as a Political Action Committee contribution, PAC # 03665. Coca Cola was the same company that Mayor Bauer fought with the Portsmouth City Council in an attempt to give them "exclusive rights to all city soda vending operations". Fortunately, City Council turned that request down; yet, Mayor Bauer and Portsmouth City Service Director Mike Blackburn did grant Coke sole selling rights for Notre Dame games at Spartan Stadium. (update @ 12:17 p.m. Friday, May 23, 2003)

The Sentinel was contacted by an anonymous person claiming that her name was on the Committee to Keep Bauer Mayor, but she did not actually give the money on the form. This individual stated that she was contacted by an employee from Coke and asked to use her name as a contributor and make a donation on her behalf. This person claims she did not authorize her name to be used. (The Sentinel will be forwarding this information to the Ohio Ethics Commission, Ohio Election Commissioner, and the Ohio Attorney General for investigation for the accuracy into this allegation and to see if other money was possibly funneled to Mayor Bauer in this same manner.)

William Stilson, 1210 Sunbury Road, Westerville, Ohio gave Mayor Bauer’s committee a check in the amount of $500.00 on 10/26/01. "This is a legal contribution, but questions arise why a person living in Westerville, Ohio would send the Mayor of Portsmouth $500.00", stated one local citizen. Stilson owns a consulting firm in Westerville, Ohio and was recommended to the Portsmouth City Council for consulting services by Mayor Bauer. This individual has received compensation from the City of Portsmouth, beginning on 11/14/01 and ending on 05/02/02, in the amount of $19,500.00.

Greg Stevens, 2415 Scioto Trail, of Stevens Construction, gave Mayor Bauer a cash contribution in the amount of $100.00 to Mayor Bauer’s committee on 08/20/01. This was a legal contribution. Stevens Construction has received over $255,000.00 from the City of Portsmouth beginning on 05/12/00 and ending on 09/10/02.

Andrew M. Glockner, 2323 Stockham Lane, Portsmouth, Ohio of Glockner Chevrolet contributed $100.00. This was a legal contribution. Glockner Chevrolet has received over $235,000 from the City of Portsmouth from 02/16/00 through 04/08/03.

C.B. Herrmann and his wife Sue Herrman, 1911 Franklin Blvd, Portsmouth, Ohio donated a total of $200.00 in cash to the campaign. These were legal contributions but a citizen is concerned that Mr. Herrmann’s insurance company, Portsmouth Insurance Agency was awarded the City of Portsmouth Health Insurance contract after the election. One citizen claims that he has information that another health insurance plan was offered to Mayor Bauer that would have kept health benefits for Portsmouth City Employees and their families at there 2002 levels and possibly save the City of Portsmouth hundreds of thousands of dollars, yet this proposal was turned down by Mayor Bauer. (We also found that the Herrmann’s donate to numerous politicians. Mr. Herrmann stated that he does this because he is a business man trying to make a living.)

The Sentinel has requested from the Portsmouth City Auditor’s Office additional information concerning monies paid to companies that contributed to Mayor Bauer’s committee in 2001. This information will be published in the near future.

Suspicion concerning the amount of "cash" donated by Mayor Bauer and his wife to his campaign was made by citizens to the Sentinel. Mayor Bauer, his wife or other individuals named Bauer that lived in and outside Portsmouth, made the following cash contributions, 7/03/01 $50.00, 8/08/01 $100.00, 8/08/01 $100.00, 9/06/01 $100.00, 9/06/01, $100.00.

Another concern with citizens of the Portsmouth area involved the number of people donating to the Mayor’s committee that did not live in the City of Portsmouth. The following individuals made legal contributions to the Mayor’s campaign but citizens of Portsmouth are asking why?

Tim and Cheryl Mershon, 466 A Cheryl Drive, McDermott, Ohio $200.00 Cash

Tiffany and Dustin Cook, 5930 Abbey Road, Dublin, Ohio, $200.00 Cash

Jack Spenser, 51 Owensville, Road, Lucasville, Ohio $300.00 check

Marty Belcher, 4345 Flo Morgan Road, Rosemount, Ohio $20.00 cash

Janna Zaph, P.O. Box 1021, South Shore, Ky. $200.00 checks

Julia Wisniewski, 20148 St. Rt. 73, McDermott, Ohio $300.00 check

Jason Lute, 771 Rases Mtn., Minford, Ohio $100.00 cash

Sandy Willard, 920 Connie Avenue, Wheelersburg, Ohio $100.00 cash

Jeff Gilmore, 4319 McDermott Pond Creeek, McDermott, Ohio $100.00 cash

Dick Cook, 434 Coburn Drive, McDermott, Ohio $100.00 cash

Norm Allen, P.O. Box 69, Minford, Ohio $100.00 cash

John M Bauer, 5911 Setland Circle, N. Canton, Ohio $100.00 cash

Jeff Caudill, 2831 Overlook Drive, Huntington, WV, $100.00 check

Trent Knittel, 4660 Little Cheyrl Drive, McDermott, Ohio $100.00

Nancy and Dee Mauk, 291 Burts Lane, Stout, Ohio $200.00 cash

Louis E. Schoettle, 12212 Rt 52, Stout, Ohio, $100.00 check

Mike Waldon Rt 2, Chillicothe, Ohio $100.00 cash

Gary Blackburn, 3520 Rhodes Avenue, New Boston, Ohio $100.00 cash

James McGinnis, 8046 Ohio River Road, Wheelersburg, Ohio $100.00 (method of payment not listed by the committee)

Gregory Otey, 5118 Canterbury Drive, Powell, Ohio $100.00 check

Thomas Jedlinsky, 825 Retreat Lane, Powell, Ohio $100.00 check

Roger Allen, 877 Kinker Rd., Minford, Ohio $100.00 cash

Linda Hayden, 367 Zuefle Drive, McDermott, Ohio $100.00 cash

Frank L. Waller, P.O. Box 157, McDermott, Ohio $100.00 check

William McKinley, P.O. Box 291, Lucasville, Ohio $100.00 check

Richard Howerton, R.R. 3 Box 11C, South Shore, Ky. $100.00 check

James Jividen, 463 Oak Street, Wheelersburg, Ohio $100.00 check

Belinda Smith, 1068 A Morris Lane, Lucasville, Ohio $100.00 check

Lee Archer, 742 Diehlman Branch Road, McDermott, Ohio, $100.00 check

Rodney Barnett, 11048 main Street, South Webster, Ohio $100.00 check

Clyde Fenton, 495 S. Zeigler Lane, Stout, Ohio $500.00 check

Steve Larcher, Flat Hollow, South Shore, Ky, $100.00 cash

Terry Smith, 1112, Boren Blvd, Wheelersburg, Ohio $100.00 cash

Manoj Sethi, 7674 Johntimm Ct., Dublin, Ohio $200.00 check

A James Siebert III, 1040 Bluesail Drive, Westerville, Ohio $300.00 check

Kevin M. Bainter, 2092 Wagon Trail Drive, Reynoldsburg, Ohio $250.00 check

Jerome G Solve, 238 Beech Trail Ct., Powell, Ohio $200.00 (method of payment not listed but we have information this individual was going to be involved in the City Center Development Project with the Mayor)

W. E. McFarland, Herms Hill Rd, Wheelersburg, Ohio $100.00 cash

Ronald B. Lemaster, P.O. Box 425, South Shore, Ky $100.00 check

"Why would these individuals have such an interest in the City of Portsmouth’s Mayors election?" asked one city employee.

We are still working this story and there is a whole lot more to come?      (10:13 a.m. Friday, May 23, 2003

Sentinel Meets with Ohio State Auditor on Mayor Bauer and

Portsmouth City Director of Services Mike Blackburn

City Employees Claim Other Illegal Acts Committed

(8:25 a.m. Thursday, May 22, 2003)

Reporters from the Sentinel met with an Ohio State Auditor Supervisor yesterday to show documents disclosed in our story concerning Portsmouth City Director of Services Mike Blackburn’s illegal conduct in falsifying city purchase orders and tax documents to buy a personal computer.

An Ohio State Auditor's assistant stated that what Blackburn had done was illegal and that the Sentinel should get copies of our documentation to Ohio State Auditor Betty Montgomery’s Investigative Unit so that this matter can be investigated.  Montgomery’s secretary told the Sentinel that our paperwork should be sent immediately to Montgomery and she would have her legal investigative team to look at this matter.

The Sentinel discussed this matter with an Assistant Ohio State Auditor for Betty Montgomery in the Columbus, Ohio office, and was told that other issues were being raised in the current Portsmouth audit, and that the Sentinel’s information may be the proof they need to link certain problems together.

Numerous Portsmouth City employees have contacted the Sentinel advising that other alleged illegal activity is going on under the leadership of Mayor Bauer.

One city worker stated that, "The computer issue is just the beginning. Ask the Mayor about the local insurance agent that got our insurance plan for this year and the added cost the city is paying for it." (The Sentinel filed a request for copies of any bids or quotes for insurance plans for this fiscal year today.)

One man stated today, "Some of us have relatives, a son, a daughter, a grandchild, and/or friends fighting for freedom in a far off country to ensure our way of life; while these crooks here at home steal the city of Portsmouth blind, while violating our rights and our freedoms.  It’s time they are brought to justice."

Another employee stated, "The only reason I’m still working for the City of Portsmouth is because I’m determined that some day these men will be exposed and their illegal acts uncovered. Maybe Blackburn’s personal computer problem will take him and the Mayor down together. The Mayor has covered his rear end for years, just remember the truck. We’ve got a great bunch of workers here; the corruptions downtown and the Chief of Police is right in it with them. The Portsmouth Police have known about the Blackburn computer for at least a year or more; where have they been?  If Horner is not Mayor Bauer’s boy, he’ll arrest Blackburn.  I’m going to be watching this very close."

The Sentinel will be discussing these issues with City Officials and the Ohio State Auditor’s Office in Columbus in the near future. If you care to comment send email to:  dougdeepe@yahoo.com.  (8:25 a.m. Thursday, May 22, 2003)

Director of Portsmouth City Service Department Mike Blackburn

Falsifies City Documents to Lease Personal Computer

The Portsmouth City Auditor, Trent Williams, provided the Sentinel copies of documents that proves the Director of the Portsmouth City Service Department Mike Blackburn opened a personal account at Desco Federal Credit Union, and then used the City of Portsmouth’s federal tax identification number to lease a personal computer at a discount price, and to avoid state, federal and city sales tax.

"A Pro Joy Stick and an Extreme Gaming Bundle"....just what every city office needs on their computers.

Records indicate that Blackburn ordered a Gateway computer on 01/26/99, using a City of Portsmouth Purchase order #100134. The computer was a Gateway Home Essentials PC and contained home essential software bundle, Quicken Basic 99 Software, 18" monitor, Canon BJC 4300 printer, printer cable, Microsoft Sidewinder Pro Joy Stick, Office Backup, and an Extreme Gaming Bundle. The total cost was $2,957.00, less taxes totaling $91.08. The lease agreement contained a 10% purchase option for the City of Portsmouth.

On May 17, 2002, Portsmouth City Auditor Trent Williams received a fax from the law firm Adams, Cooper & Marks of Boca Raton, Florida, concerning alleged City of Portsmouth checks that were sent to their client SANWA Leasing Corporation of Troy Michigan that had been returned for insufficient funds in 2001. Auditor Williams was provided with checks that had been processed through the Portsmouth Desco Credit Union that listed the author of the checks as "City of Portsmouth, 55 Mary Ann St., Portsmouth, Ohio 45662."

BLACKBURN - BAD CHECKS TO THE LEASING COMPANY 

In an interview with the Sentinel today, Auditor Williams stated, "When I got these two bounced checks, check # 5825 in the amount of $267.27, and check #5830 in the amount of $449.43, I went to Desco to find out why the name City of Portsmouth was on the checks because the City of Portsmouth didn’t have any accounts with Desco". Auditor Williams was told that the account was opened by Mike Blackburn.

Auditor Williams provided the Sentinel copies of the lease agreement, between Blackburn and SANWA Leasing Corporation, proving Blackburn used the name of the City of Portsmouth as the lessee in the contract. Blackburn signed the agreement on January 14, 1999, without the permission of the City of Portsmouth City Council or the Portsmouth City Auditor.

The Sentinel asked Auditor Williams if he had any knowledge if Blackburn used this account for other personal purchases and he stated he didn’t have any way of finding that out because the Desco account was Blackburn’s personal account and he, (Williams), didn’t have the authority to get into the account. Law enforcement would have to get that information.

On January 15, 1999, Mike Blackburn went to the City Auditors Office and told a Deputy Auditor that he needed a State of Ohio Department of Taxation Sales and Use Tax Blanket Exemption Certificate for a purchase that he was going to make for his department.

On this form SANWA Leasing Corporation agreed to waive the taxes on the purchase of this computer because Blackburn told SANWA that it was going to be use by a "Municipality", (the City of Portsmouth). The certificate was provided to Blackburn on January 15, 1999.

Auditor Trent Williams went through the City of Portsmouth’s purchase orders and could not find any purchase or lease agreement for the computer leased by Blackburn.

On May 17, 2002, Auditor Williams went to see Portsmouth Mayor Greg Bauer with this criminal activity by Blackburn. Williams showed the Sentinel hand notes he had written concerning his communications with Mayor Bauer concerning this matter. William’s notes read as follow: "Gave copy to Mayor to take care of 05/17/02. Checked with Mayor for status - Said would take care of 05//30/02  Called to check status with A,C & M as of 05/16/03        Called back Tues, May 20, 03. Was told account is paid in full 05/20/03".

The Sentinel was told by Auditor Williams that this computer is not in the inventory of the City of Portsmouth, and that the purchase was not made with his offices approval.

MAYOR REFUSES TO EXPLAIN......"IT'S A DONE DEAL."

The Sentinel went across the hall to meet with Mayor Greg Bauer who became very disturbed, red-faced, and angry with our discovery.  Mayor Bauer was vehement that this purchase had been "reviewed by all the appropriate state agencies and that it was a done deal and a dead issue," "Everyone is satisfied."   Mayor Bauer, stated, "Put any spin you want on this, it’s a done deal and over." When asked to explain what happened Mayor Bauer stated, "I don’t have to explain anything to any citizen, it’s a done deal."

STATE AUDITORS TO INVESTIGATE

The Sentinel returned to Auditor Williams office to inquire if any State of Ohio agency had been to talk to him about this criminal conduct by Blackburn; Williams stated emphatically, "No".  The Sentinel was informed that the Ohio State Auditors were currently doing the Portsmouth City audit and were in the Municipal Building. The Sentinel informed the Ohio State Auditor about what the Sentinel uncovered and asked if it was legal to use a city tax identification number for a personal purchase? The auditor stated that she needed to get a supervisor down here to review this matter and asked if we would come back.

Sentinel reporters left the Municipal Building and went to find Assistant City Solicitor Mark Kuhn to inquire about this matter. Copies of the documents were left for his review at his office, but we have not heard back from him.

Police Captain refuses to answer questions.

Captain Thoroughman does not have to talk. The Sentinel has copies of official letters he has written and a copy of the audio recording that reveals the mis-information. (posted 7:25 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, 2003)