Ohio State Representative Bob Young (R-Green) said there has been “inaccurate and unfair speculation” regarding an incident that allegedly occurred earlier this month resulting in domestic violence charges.
“Following the unfortunate events of July 7th, there has been some inaccurate and unfair speculation on social media and elsewhere. This is a case that’s in the courts now, so I can’t talk about the details. However, I can say this: no one is above the law, and that includes me. I expect to be treated in the same way as any other Summit County resident would be in a similar circumstance. I ask fair-minded people for grace to allow my family and I to deal with this privately and to reserve judgment until all the facts can be brought to light,” Young (pictured above) said.
Last week, Young held a fundraiser with House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) as the guest of honor. According to a statement from Stephens, he attended the fundraiser and afterward went to Young’s home to spend time with his friends and family. According to Stephens, the alleged incident occurred after he left the Young home.
A warrant was issued for Young’s arrest last week, and he was initially charged with a 1st-degree misdemeanor domestic violence charge and a 4th-degree felony charge of disrupting public services at his home in Green. Young paid $520 or 10 percent plus his $5,000 bond fees to secure his release.
On Tuesday, a Summit County grand jury indicted Young with one count of domestic violence and one count of assault, both misdemeanors of the first degree. The case will be remanded back to the Barberton Municipal Court. The Barberton City Prosecutor’s Office will handle the prosecution.
Following the incident, Stephens requested that Young step down as state representative and chair of the Ohio House Pensions Committee to focus on his family.
“Although I believe that people are innocent until proven guilty, I asked Bob for his resignation as state representative so he can focus on his family at this time,” Stephens said.
Last week, Young’s lawyer John Greven confirmed that Young would not resign from his position despite Stephens’ request.
According to Young, his behavior “while not criminal was inappropriate,” and he is voluntarily entering a counseling program to address some of the issues that led to this incident.
“As a State Representative with a business and a busy family of six, my life has been very stressful lately. On this particular evening at my home, we had some drinks and I acted poorly and said things I shouldn’t have. My behavior, while not criminal, was inappropriate and out of character. I apologize to everyone involved including and especially my wife and children. I also apologize to my constituents. I take pride in serving the people of my district and will continue to serve them even as I work through these issues,” Young said.
If Young did resign, local party members would choose a replacement to serve out the remaining two years of his tenure.
According to the Ohio Constitution, if there is a vacancy in the Ohio General Assembly, lawmakers must fill the vacancy by an election conducted by the members of that chamber – in this case, the State House of Representatives – where the vacancy happened, who are members of the party that last held the seat. A simple majority vote is needed to approve a replacement.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star, The Star News Network, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Bob Young” by Bob Young.
