ATHENS, Ohio — A member of the Athens City Council is facing a misdemeanor charge after he allegedly assaulted a man at the Ohio University Inn earlier this month.
The Athens Police Department arrested John Staser, a Democrat who represents the city’s 2nd Ward, on Saturday, Oct. 3, at approximately 6:30 p.m., according to a police report obtained by the Independent through a public records request.
The police complaint alleges that Staser approached a man and “pushed him, verbally confronted him and struck him multiple times.” Police said in an additional document, an incident report, that the man was from West Virginia.
City Law Director Lisa Eliason told the Independent Monday, Oct. 26 that Staser’s status as an Athens City Council member is currently unaffected by his arrest.
Staser has been charged with a first-degree misdemeanor in Athens County Municipal Court. He is represented by attorney Susan L. Gwinn, who requested a jury trial. Her office did not respond to an Oct. 26 phone call request for comment in time for publication. Staser also did not respond to an Oct. 27 email request for comment prior to publication.
Staser entered a not guilty plea Thursday, Oct. 8, and the investigation is ongoing. His case is set for a pre-trial hearing Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Eliason requested a special prosecutor for the case, and the court appointed attorney Micah Tippie.
“I think it would have an appearance of impropriety or conflict if we [the city] had prosecuted the case,” Eliason told the Independent in a phone interview.
Athens Municipal Court Judge Todd L. Grace has recused himself from the case due to an unspecified conflict of interest. He was replaced by Judge Dean Wilson, who retired from Perry County Municipal Court.
Staser was absent from Athens City Council’s meeting Monday night. Council President Micah McCarey told the Independent that Staser had previously planned to miss the meeting for a conference. McCarey also said that he had not seen violent or aggressive behavior by Staser before.
The Independent requested communications among Athens City Council members and from the Athens Law Director’s office pertaining to John Staser’s arrest and/or subsequent criminal charges. The only records returned from the requests were from the Athens Law Director’s office and pertained to Eliason’s request for a special prosecutor.
Staser is also a professor at Ohio University’s Russ College of Engineering and Technology. Dan Pittman, senior director of communications at OU, told the Independent via email that the university “does not comment on personnel matters.”
This article was updated Oct. 28 at 3:30 p.m. to include a comment from Ohio University.
