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Prosecutors drop last charge against former Akron City Council candidate
By Ed Meyer
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Wednesday, Nov 25, 2009
Former Akron City Council candidate DeAndre D. Forney has been cleared of all alleged wrongdoing in connection with a 2008 charity event involving the LeBron James Family Foundation.
Forney, 27, was acquitted of a charge of grand theft in a Summit County jury trial in August. That panel could not reach a unanimous decision on the remaining count in his indictment, forgery, and a mistrial was declared.
Instead of taking Forney to trial on the low-level felony charge, prosecutors decided last week to dismiss it. Common Pleas Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer agreed.
Forney's court record also was expunged and sealed, over the prosecution's objection, in an additional order by Stormer, Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Brad Gessner said.
Gessner, head of the agency's criminal division, declined further comment, citing the judge's expungement order.
Police said a summer charity event Forney had organized in 2008 at a Sandusky water park exceeded its budget and put the James Foundation in debt to various vendors for more than $12,000.
The charges arose about six weeks later when a foundation official contacted authorities, claiming Forney had posed as a foundation employee in promoting the event.
Jason T. Wells, Forney's attorney, said the decision was made to dismiss the remainder of the case after prosecutors reviewed the transcript of trial proceedings from the acquittal on the grand theft charge.
''In reviewing that, the LeBron James Foundation wasn't complaining and the vendors were all reimbursed, so the prosecution felt there was no loss to anybody and no reason to go forward with [the forgery charge],'' Wells said.
Forney was planning to attend the 2008 Democratic National Convention as a delegate for Barack Obama, but had his convention credentials revoked, Wells said, after being brought up on charges.
''He's very relieved this is finally over. It has basically taken away a year of his life that he can't get back, and he's hoping he can now reclaim his good name. Hopefully, this will show that he really didn't do anything wrong — as the jury found,'' Wells said.
In September 2007, Forney lost the Democratic primary for the Ward 4 council seat to incumbent Renee Greene by three votes.
Ed Meyer can be reached at 330-996-3784 or emeyer@thebeaconjournal.com.
Former Akron City Council candidate DeAndre D. Forney has been cleared of all alleged wrongdoing in connection with a 2008 charity event involving the LeBron James Family Foundation.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, Oh
Posted 07:48 AM, 11/25/2009
12K to LeMoney is like anyone else dropping a peny in the fountain.
akron, oh
Posted 07:54 AM, 11/25/2009
bull.. the lb foundation is doing well this should have never happened.
akron, oh
Posted 10:20 AM, 11/25/2009
==============================
Hopefully, this will show that he really didn't do anything wrong — as the jury found,'' Wells said.
==============================
But he did do something wrong, they chose not to purse the case since the two parties involved had been satisfied.
Barberton, oh
Posted 04:55 PM, 11/25/2009
http://bit.ly/69ojpV
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:01 PM, 11/25/2009
Im sure he did it too Mr Mayor. I have been trying to follow this from the beginning and it always looked alil strange to me. First he switched lawyers and they kept extending the trial date. I didnt want to see this bruh go down but wrong is wrong. He probally took out a loan to repay the money he scammed and everyone was satisfied. I dont understand why the records were sealed unless he plans to run for council again. If he does I wil bring this up myself. I dont like swindlers especially not in my ward. No i didnt vote for him when he ran. Im glad that Mr Neal is in that position now.
