U.S. Supreme Court denies Homrighausen’s petition
WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. Supreme Court has denied former Dover Mayor Richard Homrighausen’s petition for an appeal of his criminal conviction for theft in office from 2022. The court announced the decision to deny a petition for a “writ of certiorari” Monday.
A jury in November 2022 found Homrighausen guilty of one fifth-degree felony – theft in office – and five misdemeanors, including soliciting improper compensation and dereliction of duty.
The charges stemmed from Homrighausen accepting payments for performing weddings.
The Ohio Auditor’s Office pursued the case, saying Homrighausen pocketed the money when he should have given it to the city.
Homrighausen’s lawyers argued it was an accepted practice for 28 years that no one objected to until his political rivals made it an issue in 2020.
Homrighausen unsuccessfully appealed to the Fifth District Court of Appeals, the Ohio Supreme Court and now the U.S. Supreme Court.
His punishment is $19,000 in fines, costs and restitution to the city of Dover. Homrighausen is also barred from holding public office, which forced him to vacate the mayor’s post after eight terms and 30 years in that position.