Prosecuting Attorney

County of Summit

NEWS                                                                                     CONTACT:  April Wiesner

For Immediate Release:                                             Phone:   (330) 643-8386

Wednesday, September 7, 2011                                 wiesner@prosecutor.summitoh.net

Prosecutor Walsh’s Response to Williams-Bolar Conviction Reduction

AKRON, Ohio – September 7, 2011 – Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh today released the following statement in response to Governor John Kasich’s reduction of Kelley Williams-Bolar’s conviction from a felony to a misdemeanor:

“I greatly appreciate the time and care the jury took when considering this case. After hearing all of the evidence, the jury upheld the laws set forth by the Ohio legislature that state that tampering with government documents is a felony offense. And I was pleased that the Ohio Parole Board also carefully considered all of the facts on this case, including information that was discovered between the conclusion of Ms. Williams-Bolar’s trial and her clemency hearing.

“Governor Kasich is not required to uphold a jury’s verdict, nor must he follow the Parole Board’s recommendation to reject clemency, even when that recommendation is unanimous.”

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