Events Calendar
In This Section
Researcher says she found text on Shroud of Turin
Ohio native takes second place on 'Project Runway'
White House at odds with bishops over abortion
End of an era: Oprah ending show after 25 years
Kin want right to sue after man assumed dead
Sen. Kerry's daughter arrested in LA on DUI
Raw Video: Cop Crashes Into Car Killing 2 Teens
Hundreds of rotting deer in yard cause big stink (with video)
Most Read Stories
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Coventry man killed in crash at I-77 ramp
NFL star Chris Spielman's wife loses cancer battle
College student mistaken for deer, shot to death
Browns' roster nearly devoid of consistent players
Review: You've never seen 'Sound of Music' like this
Actor Bernsen enjoying ride of derby movie project
Man allegedly paid teens to spit in his face
High-tech company expands downtown
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
For your Saturday entertainment …
Akron Zips:
Hitchens leads Zips in second-half comeback
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Holmgren expresses interest in Browns position
Kent State Sports:
Kent State blown out in second half, loses to Temple 47-13
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Four area football teams play tonight
All Da King's Men:
Headed For Disaster
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (68) Democrats Secure 60 Votes for Cloture
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Colloquium at University of Akron
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By Julie Carr Smyth
Associated Press statehouse correspondent
POSTED: 01:30 p.m. EDT, May 02, 2008
COLUMBUS: Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann said today he had an affair with an employee, and three advisers were forced out of their jobs in a scandal over sexual harassment allegations against an aide.
Dann said he will not resign even after an investigation scolded him for allowing a woman who claimed harassment by an aide to his apartment for drinks.
Dann took responsibility for the scandal and acknowledged that he was not prepared to be attorney general when he took office and not ready to take over an office of this size.
''I'm embarrassed. I have taken responsibility for what I've done,'' he said.
He called the affair consensual and said it came during a difficult time in his marriage. He said it was ''relationship that was wrong and I deeply regret it.''
He apologized to his wife and three children for the pain and embarrassment.
Dann would not disclose the employee's name.
Dann's scheduler, Jessica Utovich, with whom had had a close relationship in which they often used profanity, nicknames and teasing when e-mailing each other, also resigned voluntarily, said Tom Winters, first assistant attorney general. He did not give a reason.
When interviewed for the investigation conducted by his assistants, Dann said Utovich stayed overnight at an apartment he shared with two aides for a variety of reasons that he would not discuss. During her interview, Utovich refused to say whether she ever stayed overnight at the apartment.
The fallout is an especially painful blow to Dann because he has made his political name on fighting corruption. E-mails from the office and investigation interviews showed a casual work atmosphere, in which vulgarities and drinking were common.
Dann, Ohio's top law enforcer, removed himself from the investigation handled by his assistant attorneys general.
Anthony Gutierrez, who led Dann's general services office, was fired after the review found that he violated sexual harassment policy. He was accused by two women he supervised — Cindy Stankoski and Vanessa Stout, both 26 — of making unwanted come-ons and vulgar remarks.
Also fired was Dann's communications chief Leo Jennings who is accused of trying to get a worker to lie when interviewed under oath. Investigators say Edgar Simpson, Dann's policy chief, was forced to resign for failing to address inappropriate behavior. Simpson had knowledge of Gutierrez's history of policy violations, the investigation report said.
Stankoski said she went to the apartment near Columbus shared by Dann, Gutierrez and Jennings for pizza and drinks. She said she fell asleep drunk at the condo and when she was awoke, her pants were unbuttoned and Gutierrez was lying next to her in his underwear.
When it was apparent Stankoski had too much to drink, arrangements should have been made to get her home, said the investigation.
Stout alleged that Gutierrez repeatedly asked her for sex, suggesting she ''owed'' him for helping her land a state job.
The investigation also found that Gutierrez violated policies that prohibit driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The report detailed an incident where Gutierrez allegedly was drinking with other employees while driving a state vehicle.
The matter is now under investigation by the State Highway Patrol.
Messages left for Gutierrez's attorney, Sam Amendolara, and Jennings were not immediately returned.
COLUMBUS: Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann said today he had an affair with an employee, and three advisers were forced out of their jobs in a scandal over sexual harassment allegations against an aide.
Dann said he will not resign even after an investigation scolded him for allowing a woman who claimed harassment by an aide to his apartment for drinks.
Dann took responsibility for the scandal and acknowledged that he was not prepared to be attorney general when he took office and not ready to take over an office of this size.
''I'm embarrassed. I have taken responsibility for what I've done,'' he said.
He called the affair consensual and said it came during a difficult time in his marriage. He said it was ''relationship that was wrong and I deeply regret it.''
He apologized to his wife and three children for the pain and embarrassment.
Dann would not disclose the employee's name.
Dann's scheduler, Jessica Utovich, with whom had had a close relationship in which they often used profanity, nicknames and teasing when e-mailing each other, also resigned voluntarily, said Tom Winters, first assistant attorney general. He did not give a reason.
When interviewed for the investigation conducted by his assistants, Dann said Utovich stayed overnight at an apartment he shared with two aides for a variety of reasons that he would not discuss. During her interview, Utovich refused to say whether she ever stayed overnight at the apartment.
The fallout is an especially painful blow to Dann because he has made his political name on fighting corruption. E-mails from the office and investigation interviews showed a casual work atmosphere, in which vulgarities and drinking were common.
Dann, Ohio's top law enforcer, removed himself from the investigation handled by his assistant attorneys general.
Anthony Gutierrez, who led Dann's general services office, was fired after the review found that he violated sexual harassment policy. He was accused by two women he supervised — Cindy Stankoski and Vanessa Stout, both 26 — of making unwanted come-ons and vulgar remarks.
Also fired was Dann's communications chief Leo Jennings who is accused of trying to get a worker to lie when interviewed under oath. Investigators say Edgar Simpson, Dann's policy chief, was forced to resign for failing to address inappropriate behavior. Simpson had knowledge of Gutierrez's history of policy violations, the investigation report said.
Stankoski said she went to the apartment near Columbus shared by Dann, Gutierrez and Jennings for pizza and drinks. She said she fell asleep drunk at the condo and when she was awoke, her pants were unbuttoned and Gutierrez was lying next to her in his underwear.
When it was apparent Stankoski had too much to drink, arrangements should have been made to get her home, said the investigation.
Stout alleged that Gutierrez repeatedly asked her for sex, suggesting she ''owed'' him for helping her land a state job.
The investigation also found that Gutierrez violated policies that prohibit driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The report detailed an incident where Gutierrez allegedly was drinking with other employees while driving a state vehicle.
The matter is now under investigation by the State Highway Patrol.
Messages left for Gutierrez's attorney, Sam Amendolara, and Jennings were not immediately returned.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
