Ex-Ohio AG Marc Dann, state reach campaign finance case deal

6/11/2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio Former Attorney General Marc Dann, accused of wrongly using campaign funds, has reached a tentative agreement with the state that will result in a $1,000 fine and the dismissal of all but one remaining charge in the case.

According to a copy of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, Dann's campaign will acknowledge that his use of campaign funds to pay for a trip to San Francisco for his family were in violation of state law. The state will acknowledge that Dann has already refunded some of the money and didn't intentionally break the law.

By agreement, Dann and his campaign will pay a $1,000 fine. The commission accepted the agreement Thursday and the fine was imposed.

The agreement was negotiated over the past two weeks. It reflects that the commission has already found Dann in violation of election law for using campaign funds for installation of a security system at his Youngstown home and for personal use of a cell phone.

On those two violations, the 7-member panel voted not to refer Dann to prosecutors.

The state attorney general is the state's top cop and top lawyer.

Dann stepped down a year ago amid a sexual harassment scandal at his office. A top aide, Anthony Gutierrez, faces a 10-count indictment alleging he committed felony theft in office and used a state computer system to transmit fraudulent workers' compensation documents.