This press release was originally issued by the Office of the Ohio Attorney General.

YOUNGSTOWN, OH—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that former Mahoning County Probate Court Judge Mark Belinky, 61, has pleaded guilty to a bill of information charging him with one count of tampering with records.

According to the bill of information, Belinky failed to disclose between $7,500 and $150,000 in campaign contributions, campaign expenditures, and loans used for campaign purposes on his 2008 pre-election campaign finance report and 2008 post-election campaign finance report.

The tampering with records charge is a felony of the fourth degree. Belinky will be sentenced at a later date.

The investigation into Belinky, which is being conducted by the Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, is ongoing.

Prosecutors with Attorney General DeWine’s Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case.

Media Contacts:

• Lisa Hackley: 614-466-3840
• Jill Del Greco: 614-466-3840