Saturday, March 15, 2014

Former Probate Judge Mark Belinky Answers Questions About His Resignation

Mahoning County Probate Judge Mark Belinky has resigned from the bench amid an investigation into suspected corruption.
 
21 News Reporter Michelle Nicks spoke with Judge Belinky after he issued his resignation.
 
She reports Belinky did return her phone call and answered some of her questions about his resignation.
 
Belinky said "I'm trying to approach my situation in the best interest of my family and myself. I am concerned about my staff and I am concerned about the court. I have spent 35 years working in Probate Court or being the judge of the court. It takes tremendous experience to run it. I thank the thousands of people who allowed me to help them there. It was an honor. The public overwhelmingly elected me to be the judge. I took that very seriously. I personally was proud to greet and wait on the public as they came to my office."
 
Belinky told Michelle Nicks that he will retain his law license for now and he's focused on supporting his family and getting through this.

He would not discuss the details of the Attorney General's investigation at this time, on the advice of his attorney.

There has been no indication that Belinky has been charged with any crime.

Last month agents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and sheriff's deputies searched Belinky's courthouse office and his home.

According to a search warrant, investigators were looking for bank records, campaign finance reports, lists of donations and donors, ledgers, and any documentation, computers electronic storage devices, and electronic media.
 
Court documents said that authorities were seeking evidence in criminal offenses including, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, tampering with records, bribery, money laundering, theft and theft in office.

Full Article and Source:
Mahong County Probate Judge Mark Responds After Resignation

See Also:
Ohio Mahong County Probate Judge Mark Belinky Resigns!

6 comments:

Daniel Ryan said...

I have a strong feeling he is a crooked as a corkscrew! Otherwise why are they conducting such a thorough investigation? Besides, anyone who pays attention to these issues, knows there is an infestation of corruption throughout much of the probate court system in this country. (Which begins with the judges)I hope he did it; they prove it, and that he gets REALLY stiff penalties as an example to provoke change in these laws that enable human trafficking!!!

StandUp said...

He has embarrassed his position and his family.

Anonymous said...

If he were approaching the situation in the best interests of his family and himself, he wouldn't have done these things in the first place.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps a little more information is in order as to why Judge Lynne Kawamoto and Judge Cesario both "resigned" from their postions on the 18th floor of the Daley Center (Cook County Probate Court, Chicago)....

Karen said...

Not falling for any of it, Belinky.

Anonymous said...

Looks like someone is following the $ GOOD!!! An example of one of the 'c' judges. Probate is big big big money so many ways to profit from studying these cases it's so easy to determine and while I'm at it many wards have life insurance policies the pay off comes after death off the guardianship records now is that $ turned over to the estate or reported to the executor of probate estate?

Life insurance proceeds are pocket change for the G Team add it up how many wards per guardian?

Is the IRS being stiffed?

You be the judge I know the answer, not it's YOUR turn.