In Hocking County

Ohio Disciplinary Counsel has filed a complaint charging the elected prosecutor of Hocking County with creating a hostile work environment “through his unprofessionalism.”

In the process of hiring two victim witness advocates, he allegedly asked if it was permissible to say “fuck” in the office and if they would accept “dogshit pay” and hired them both when they answered in the affirmative.

He is charged with erratic behavior, screaming outbursts and keeping a gun in his office which “made staff members afraid of [his] volativity.”

He is charged with inappropriate sexual behavior towards an assistant prosecutor, saying as she left a grand jury that her dress made him  “want [her] wrap her legs around his face until she orgasmed.” 

There are further allegations of conduct that led that assistant prosecutor to resign.

With respect to one of the victim advocates he hired and could fire, he allegedly “began grooming [her] to engage- in a sexual relationship with him by sending her increasingly sexual text messages.”

There is a lot more of this type of conduct alleged in the 30-page charging document.

Scioto Valley Guardian reported that he has resigned effective April 19.

Black is also accused of having a sexual relationship with a client; county commissioner Jessica Dickens.

• The encounter between Black and Jessica Dickens, a Hocking County Commissioner, occurred on August 2, 2023, and indicates a consensual sexual relationship occurring while Dicken was serving as a client of the county.
• This behavior violates professional conduct rules prohibiting lawyers from engaging in sexual activity with clients unless a pre-existing consensual relationship existed before the client-lawyer relationship commenced, the board said.

Black is accused of abusing his powerful office for gain:

• Black’s interactions with Mark Stout, the Hocking County IT Director, demonstrate an abuse of power and misuse of his position as a prosecutor.
• In on instance, Black was threatening Stout with legal action and attempting to coerce him into prioritizing the prosecutor’s office’s computer issues reflect behavior that adversely reflects on respondent’s fitness to practice law. Black said he was going to criminally charge Stout if he did not stop everything he was doing to focus on the Prosecutor’s office.

The Logan-Hocking Times reported on the controversy 

The Hocking County Republican Party voted unanimously to seek removal of Hocking County Prosecutor Ryan Black from office on behalf of the Republican Party and the citizens of Hocking County.

The discussion for the removal of Black was brought up during Monday night’s monthly meeting demanding his resignation for misfeasance, malfeasance and gross misconduct, which brought disrepute to his office, the criminal justice system, and the citizens of Hocking County who elected him into office four years ago.

The demand for the removal of the Prosecutor comes at the heels of a federal lawsuit filed by two former employees who claim Black used his power and position for sexual favors from women in his office.

Kate Ricketts and Kelsey Vanscyoc, former employees of the Hocking County Prosecutor’s Office, have filed a suit against Hocking County and Prosecutor Ryan Black, alleging loss of wages; loss of pension benefits; loss of insurance benefits; loss of other fringe benefits; loss of the opportunity to be able to continue the gainful employ in which they have been engaged for prior years; loss of future earnings and front-pay; loss of reputation; humiliation, embarrassment and loss of self-esteem; adverse health affects; unequal pay on the basis of their gender; and loss of time and money in endeavoring to protect themselves from the Defendants’ unlawful retaliation, including costs and reasonable attorney fees of the action.

The two women allege that they, along with other women in Black’s office were subjected to “demeaning, degrading, sexist and offensive comments and conduct,” which created a hostile environment. The case was filed in Federal Court at the beginning of February.

Allegedly Ricketts, Vanscyoc and another female co-worker complained on several instances to superiors including Olen Martin, Cynthia Ellison and Justin Townley regarding Black’s inappropriate comments, harassment and actions that created a hostile work environment; however, nothing was resolved.

Ellison has since moved on and is working for the Ohio Attorney General’s Office; and Martin is now the Police Chief in Great Falls, South Carolina.

Monday night, the Hocking County Republican Party took action with the unanimous vote to remove Black from office. Republican Chair Mike Harris and Executive Committee Chair Ray Elzey served Black with a letter demanding his resignation on Tuesday. Black was not in his office but Harris and Kernen delivered the letter at 9:38 a.m.

In the letter signed by Chairman Harris, he said, “Your inability to lead, your abuse of power, and your blatant disregard for your staff, public officials whom are your statutory clients, victims of crime, and the general public, have caused irreparable damage to your reputation as Prosecuting Attorney, and the office which you hold.

You’ve managed to disgrace our entire county. Our citizens cannot pick up a newspaper or watch the news without being reminded of your misdeeds. These are not the values of a true professional, an ethical and moral attorney, or a Republican. Instead of stopping corruption, you perpetrated it.

“We demand that you immediately withdraw your candidacy for Prosecuting Attorney, and tender your resignation to the Board of Commissioners of Hocking County no later than March 20, 2024. If you fail to do so, we, as the Republican Party, supported by many members of our beloved community will seek your removal from office for neglect and misconduct pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 309.05.

Whereas, the members of the Hocking County Republican Central and Executive Committees are elected, and appointed, to serve the best interests of the Republican Party, and the citizens of Hocking County, Ohio;

And whereas, the members of the Hocking County Republican Central and Executive Committees shall submit a letter to Ryan Black, the Prosecuting Attorney of Hocking County, demanding his resignation for misfeasance, malfeasance, and gross misconduct, which have brought disrepute to his office, the criminal justice system, and the citizens of Hocking County, whom he wore an oath to serve.

And whereas, the seriousness of his alleged offenses undermines the integrity of his office, which adversely affects the functioning of his office, and adversely affects the rights and interest of the public;

And whereas, timely and official action must be taken to seek removal action as outlined in Section 309.05 of the Ohio revised Code if Mr. Black does not resign immediately;

Now therefore be it resolved, that the Central and Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Hocking County, Ohio, hereby authorize, and sanction, Chairman Michael D. Harris to pursue, by whatever means necessary, removal action as outline in 309.05 of the Ohio Revised Code on behalf of the Republican Party and the citizens of Hocking County, Ohio.

The resolution was signed by Michael D. Harris, Chairman of Central Committee; Janet Conrad, Secretary Central Committee; and Ray Elzey, Chairman Executive Committee.

According to the ORC 309.05, the written complaint, signed by one or more taxpayers, containing distinct charges and specifications of wanton and willful neglect of duty or gross misconduct in office by the prosecuting attorney, supported by affidavit and filed in the court of common pleas, the court shall assign the complaint for hearing and shall cause reasonable notice of the hearing to be given to the prosecuting attorney of the time for the hearing.

If it appears that the prosecutor has willfully and wantonly neglected to perform his duties or has been found guilty of gross misconduct in office, the court at that time, according to ORC 309.05, shall remove the prosecutor from office.

The Republican Party has taken the proper steps for removal of Black, but it is uncertain how long the process will take to remove him from office; however, the Party is hoping for a speedy response.

In July 2023, the Hocking County Prosecutor Ryan Black and Hocking County Sheriff Lanny North announced the formation of a joint agency Public Anti-Corruption Initiative to focus on allegations of misconduct and corrupt activities within Hocking County.

In a press release concerning the Initiative, Prosecutor Black stated, “Our agencies have recognized the need to cooperatively work together, and the recent complaints have made it clear that collaborative investigative efforts in conjunction with aggressive prosecution is appropriate and necessary.”

Seven months has passed since the formation of the Initiative, and now Prosecutor Black is in the news with a suit being filed against him in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio Eastern Division.

According to the press release, the Initiative was formed because — “the residents of Hocking County deserve public servants who act with transparency, impartiality and above all with integrity.”

How ironic is it that the public official who formed the Anti-Corruption Initiative along with Sheriff North, now has a lawsuit filed against him in Federal Court?

Hocking County has certainly seen its fair share of alleged corruption within its public offices from elected officials — Hocking County Commissioner Jessica Dicken is accused of wrongdoings while acting as the Hocking County Fair Board Secretary. She is facing six felony charges including election falsification, theft and money laundering. Dicken is scheduled for a pretrial in April, followed by a jury trial in August. She is currently being paid by the county although she is not serving in the capacity of Commissioner.

And now Prosecutor Black is being accused of using his power and position for sexual favors from certain employees.

Although he is NOT an elected public official, former Hocking County Sheriff Chief Deputy Caleb Moritz has also made the news since last July when he was indicted on felony charges of intimidation and theft in office.

As a reminder, and this has been said many times — ALL are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

What’s next for Hocking County? Will there be more corruption uncovered?

(Mike Frisch)