Hunter prosecution might cost taxpayers $450K
Hamilton County taxpayers might get a bill for up to $450,000 to cover the cost of prosecuting former Juvenile Court Judge Tracie Hunter.
County commissioners on Wednesday set aside $500,000 for legal fees associated with the case and expect most of that money to be spent if Hunter appeals the felony conviction she received Tuesday.
County Administrator Christian Sigman said costs had reached about $240,000 two weeks ago and are likely to go significantly higher. Hunter's trial lasted five weeks and pretrial work by the two special prosecutors, R. Scott Croswell III and Merlyn Shiverdecker, had gone on for months before the trial.
If Hunter appeals her conviction, as her attorney has promised, Sigman said the cost of the prosecution would likely climb to between $400,000 and $450,000.
The county hired special prosecutors because Hunter had filed grievances against Prosecutor Joe Deters and others.
The special prosecutors have not submitted their bill yet, but Sigman said he received an estimate of the total so far when he contacted the court two weeks ago.
Hunter, 47, had been charged with nine felonies connected to her actions while serving as judge. Jurors found Hunter guilty of having an unlawful interest in a public contract involving her brother, who obtained documents to which he wasn't entitled.
The jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on the other eight charges, including unlawful use of county credit cards and backdating court documents.
Hunter spent less than two years on the bench after winning an election that involved disputed ballots and lawsuits. While on the bench, she fought frequently with prosecutors, journalists and public defenders over access to the courtroom and other issues.
She denied the charges against her, and her attorney, Clyde Bennett, has vowed to appeal her conviction. The special prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek a retrial on the remaining charges.
Hunter faces up to 18 months in prison for the lone felony conviction.