State seeks county prosecutor’s removal
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a complaint seeking the suspension and removal of Sandusky County Prosecutor Tim Braun.
The complaint, filed last week in Sandusky County Common Pleas Court, states that Braun should be removed from office for his “willful and flagrant” transgressions in his position as prosecutor.
Yost filed the complaint as counsel for Gov. Mike DeWine.
“Braun’s pattern of misconduct towards his female subordinates, his criminal investigation into the missing personnel files, his seizure of his female subordinates’ private cell phone records, and his conviction of negligent assault on his female subordinate together demonstrate that he committed gross neglect of duty, gross immorality, misfeasance, malfeasance, and/or nonfeasance and is therefore guilty of misconduct in office and should be removed from office in accordance with Ohio Revised Code sections 3.07 and 3.08,” the complaint reads.
The filing contends that Braun’s conviction has rendered him unable to perform the basic duties of prosecutor and he shouldn’t be trusted with the power and authority of the office.
Also, his continued presence as the county prosecutor harms the public welfare, it says.
Braun pled guilty Dec. 6, 2019 and was convicted of one count of negligent assault, stemming from a charge of improper physical contact in the workplace.
Yost previously called for Braun’s resignation on Oct. 29, following an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Last May, Christopher Hilton, county sheriff, requested assistance from the BCI into possible criminal misconduct in the prosecutor’s office.
Employees of the prosecutor’s office told BCI agents that Braun had “subjected multiple female subordinate employees to unwanted physical contact and inappropriate sexual, intimidating and threatening comments on numerous occasions,” the complaint states.
It also says Ohio law allows the court to suspend Braun pending a hearing on the complaint to remove him from office.
“Finally, conditions of Braun’s probation prevent him from performing his official duties. Accordingly, suspension pending the outcome of the hearing on the complaint for removal is both authorized and appropriate.”