Judge sets $50K bond on Oak Harbor lawyer

11/20/2002

PORT CLINTON - Bond has been set at $50,000 for an Oak Harbor attorney who is charged with felony escape.

Elsebeth Baumgartner, 47, made an initial appearance Monday in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court and was scheduled for a pretrial hearing Jan. 3. She remained in the Ottawa County jail yesterday afternoon, Sheriff Craig Emahiser said.

Ms. Baumgartner, who was convicted in July of making false statements about a public official, was initially jailed in Ottawa County on a warrant that accused her of violating her probation. She was allowed to leave the jail to attend a hearing but failed to return Sept. 25 as scheduled.

Ms. Baumgartner was indicted Oct. 2 on an escape charge. She was arrested in Seabrook, Texas, on Oct. 11, and fought extradition to Ohio. However, she turned herself in to Lorain County authorities last week and was returned to Ottawa County.

She faces a charge of violating her probation in Ottawa County Municipal Court; a hearing has not been scheduled there.