Jacob was indicted for four felonies among which three related to promoting prostitution. He was also indicted for bribery, and misdemeanors of dereliction of duty and six counts of soliciting prostitutes. The indictment mentions that Jacob dealt with at least four different prostitutes.
State charges against Jacob show that he solicited sex from at least three prostitutes. The charges further allege that he had supervised and induced the activities of at least two women engaged in sex for hire. Documents show that at least on one instance Jacob dealt leniently with one woman traffic violator who he had paid for sex - he did not inform other court officials about his relationship with the woman.
The indictments resulted from a joint investigation into the matter by Bedford Police Department, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office. During the indictment, the supervising attorney in the Public Corruption Unit of the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office, Matthew Meyer, said, "No public official should be able to abuse his or her position or public trust as these two defendants have done. Prosecutors and judges are supposed to enforce the law, not violate it."Bedford Municipal Court Judge Harry Jacob III, of Solon, had taken a medical leave of absence from bench starting November 19. In December, Jacob along with city of Bedford Law Director Ken Schuman was indicted on multiple charges including bribery and corruption to promoting prostitution. This week, Jacob was arraigned but pleaded not guilty to all the charges and posted bail. His next pretrial hearing is on January 13, before Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Brian J. Corrigan.
State charges against Jacob show that he solicited sex from at least three prostitutes. The charges further allege that he had supervised and induced the activities of at least two women engaged in sex for hire. Documents show that at least on one instance Jacob dealt leniently with one woman traffic violator who he had paid for sex - he did not inform other court officials about his relationship with the woman.
The involvement of high-profile officials were exposed following a September raid at an alleged brothel called Studio 54. The owner of this place was subsequently indicted on charges of money laundering and promoting prostitution. However, the owner had kept meticulous records of his activities and law enforcement authorities also found records of clients who paid for sex with credit cards.
The indictments resulted from a joint investigation into the matter by Bedford Police Department, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office. During the indictment, the supervising attorney in the Public Corruption Unit of the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office, Matthew Meyer, said, "No public official should be able to abuse his or her position or public trust as these two defendants have done. Prosecutors and judges are supposed to enforce the law, not violate it."
