Ex-official faces trial in Henry County

6/1/2013

NAPOLEON — A former Henry County commissioner charged with having an unlawful interest in a contract will have his case heard by a visiting judge.

Richard Myers, 63, of Liberty Center on Friday waived his right to a jury trial in Henry County Common Pleas Court, choosing instead to have a bench trial July 9 before Judge Randall Basinger of Putnam County.

Mr. Myers, who was indicted last September, lost his bid for re-election in November. He is accused of loaning $25,000 of his own money to a specialty-car company interested in moving to Henry County. He allegedly convinced his fellow commissioners to award a $300,000 grant to the company without disclosing his investment to them.

The company did not relocate to Henry County, and the county did not recoup the $300,000.