Lou Whitmire

Reporter

MANSFIELD - Michael Skidmore will face a bond revocation hearing Friday just two weeks after a jury found him guilty of inducing panic, obstructing official business and two misdemeanor counts of assault during a 2015 Richland County Commissioners meeting.

Skidmore, 59, of Franklin Township, was found guilty June 10, although the jury found him innocent on two counts of felonious assault. He could have received up to 16 years in prison on those two charges.

Skidmore was scheduled to remain free until sentencing July 27 as Visiting Judge Richard Reinbold continued the terms of his bond. Skidmore could get 2 1/2 years in prison or probation. Inducing panic and obstructing official business are low-level felonies that don't carry a presumption of prison time.

Attorney General's Office spokeswoman Jill DelGreco said Special Prosecutor Brad Tammaro of the Ohio Attorney General's Office had no comment on why the hearing was requested.

"More information will be presented in open court during the hearing," she said.

Skidmore's attorney, Jaceda Blazef, was not immediately available for comment Monday. Blazef is co-counsel with her sister Anica Blazef-Horner.

The charges stem from an altercation with two security officers who tried to remove him from a July 9 county commissioners meeting, resulting in a melee in which a gunshot was fired.

lwhitmir@nncogannett.com

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