Southwest Ohio Judge, Clerk Indicted

by J.D. Davidson

A southwest Ohio judge and court clerk face charges after a grand jury returned a 12-count indictment.

State Auditor Keith Faber said an investigation uncovered allegations of improper activity, including political, involving public resources that led to charges against Montgomery County Municipal Judge James Piergies and Clerk of Courts Mike Foley.

Both will be arraigned in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court on Aug. 15.

Piergies faces felony counts of having an unlawful interest in a public contract.

Foley, Republican nominee for the clerk seat against Democrat Lynn Cooper in the November election, faces felony counts of attempted unlawful interest in a public contract, aiding and abetting an unlawful interest in a public contract, unauthorized use of a computer, and theft in office. He has misdemeanor charges of soliciting political contributions from public employees and the prohibition against partisan political activity.

Faber’s Special Investigations Unit began an investigation after receiving an anonymous complaint in October 2022 about Foley saying he solicited campaign contributions from employees and committed other improper political actions. Faber said the allegations against Piergies relate to his son’s employment.

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An Ohio native, J.D. Davidson is a veteran journalist with more than 30 years of experience in newspapers in Ohio, Georgia, Alabama and Texas. He has served as a reporter, editor, managing editor and publisher. Davidson is a regional editor for The Center Square.