“Closing arguments on Akron and Summit County corruption”

As a young college student at the University of Akron, where both I and Brand Brittons brother attended, we were part of the peace scene in the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s. Young lost souls trying to gain some understanding through study and observation. Trying to find order where there seemed to be none.

As young restless minds we met with many ideologies around the campus environment. Some of our lessons came from the streets. Brands brother and another mutual friend knew a young girl that they liked very much. They liked her despite her chosen profession. Teddy was a prostitute. They told me how she got girls and pot for a “judge” in Akron. They thought he was “cool” until he convicted people for the same thing that he was doing.

His name is James Barbuto. The same judge that would bring attention to Akron through the television show “20-20”.

Years later I would meet one of the detectives that busted him. Guns that were supposed to be destroyed ended up back on the street. When Helmut Klemm and his partner went to their superior about this case, they were told to leave it go. They were told, “You don’t want to have to look under your car every time you get in it”. (Threat of a car bomb)

Instead they took this case to the Akron Federal Building to work.

In the end, the two detectives would expose not only the gun corruption, but the fact that Barbuto was having sex in his back chambers, wearing women’s underwear, and having black prostitutes whip him. He knew he was a bitch of the state, living a lie.  

The following article is what the Akron Beacon Journal would publicly profess what should be done in this matter. Of course, early on in this case a young reporter by the name of Keith McKnight would hide the facts of this case until they were exposed by the mass-media giant 20-20. This is the same Keith McKnight that would help extort the facts in the Hannah Hill murder case some twenty years later. What the newspaper says publicly is not what they practice privately. They are all a part of our modern-day corrupt administration.

Tuesday, June 17, 1980

Editorials

Barbuto trial unpleasant, but it served justice well

THE CONVICTION of Judge James V. Barbuto on two felony counts brings to close to one phase of a prolonged and difficult task of rooting out public corruption in county government.

The trial of Barbuto, ably handled by visiting Judge George J. McMonagle, was not a pleasant spectacle for the community.

The testimony of witnesses for the prosecution dealt with the tawdry, unseemly and criminal behavior by a judge who abused the power of his office. The facts of this case, distasteful as they may have been for the public, show the need for continued vigilance by all to make certain the judicial system is operated in an ethical manner and with a high degree of professionalism.

The evidence presented in this case, much of it not rebutted by the defense, showed that Barbuto failed miserably to live up to the standards expected of anyone who reaches a powerful judicial office.

He has been decreed a criminal by Judge McMonagle. Barbuto’s attorneys have said they intend to appeal the verdicts, but it is worth noting that Barbuto himself waived the right to a jury trial and chose to take his chances with Judge McMonagle.

This was no victory for the defense, as some of the post – trial comments would indicate. A judge has been found guilty of felonies. If there is any victory involved at all , it is a victory for the criminal justice system, which was made to work under extremely difficult circumstances.

The special prosecutor in this matter, Orval Hoover, deserves the community’s gratitude for taking on his hard but necessary task. Mr. Hoover faced a skilled team of defense lawyers; he won significant conviction of a powerful judicial figure who had violated the public trust.

The Akron Police Department, which investigated these matters against considerable odds, also deserves credit for hard work and a good job. Detective Helmut Klemm and Sgt. Edward Duvall Jr. overcame many obstacles in bringing to light matters that needed the attention of the criminal justice system.

Indeed, had the steady progression of the case not been delayed by the dispute between police and Stephan Garbalac, the county prosecutor, Barbuto might well have been convicted on a third serious charge, that of attempted rape. Judge McMonagle found that Barbuto was clearly guilty of that charge, but that it could not be proven to have occurred within the six- year limit for prosecution of felony charges.

The attempted rape was alleged to have occurred in May of 1974. Had the trial of Barbuto been held earlier, which it might well have been without the delay caused by that puzzling dispute, the event could well have fallen within the six – year limit.

Barbuto faces other criminal charges in a trial scheduled to start on June 23. That case should be prosecuted with just as much vigor as the trail now ended.

The community has now witnessed the conviction of a judge and pleas of guilty to crime by a sheriff, a retired police officer and a coroner’s deputy. Other matters and other investigations are still pending. The criminal justice system has worked well so far; it must continue to do so until all questions about potential public corruption and misuse of public office are resolved.

When I was challenging issues at this time and was incarcerated for my social stand, guards would tell me James was one of the fairer judges. Barbuto would spend just seventy-eight days incarcerated and be excused because of supposed health reasons. He would operate two different restaurants after his release. Those above the law are always excused by their cronies.

And there was other public corruption during this period of time. The following article would appear in the Akron Beacon Journal on Sunday April 26, 1981.

PODA’S EXIT MUST NOT END PROBE OF CORRUPTION…

And now there are four-four former elected Summit County officials who have shamed themselves and the county by their crimes and who have been forced from their posts.

Add to that four other high-level aides who were bounced after breaking the law.

One is tempted to ask, in the words of singer Peggy Lee, “Is that all there is?” Is the resignation Friday of County Auditor John Poda Jr., after guilty pleas to state and federal charges tied to illegal campaign contributions, the last word on corruption in Summit County Government?

Or is there more?

Podas political coffin now lays alongside those of former Judge Barbuto, former sheriff Anthony Cardarelli and former county engineer Stephen Dubetz.

In addition, voters forced former prosecutor Stephan Gabiac from office last November, in part because he was seen as being less vigorous than he should have been pursuing indications of corruption.

There is the temptation, after all that, to say, “Enough is enough.” But it cannot be that way. If there are hints of criminal behavior about other elected-or appointed-officials in county government, they must be investigated thoroughly.

Anyone who has abused the public trust must be brought to justice. Until that process is completed, citizens will wonder whether their elected officials and assistants are looking out first for their personal interests or the publics.

The duty to root out wrongdoers now falls on the new county prosecutor, Lynn Slaby, the sheriff David Troutman. Together they have a mandate from the voters to see that this sad and regrettable period in Summit County’s history is ended.

They need to be ever alert to reports of improper or illegal acts by county officials and employees, and to react with determination and resolve to confront them.

If there is anything certain about the unfortunate chain of events that lead to Poda’s resignation in disgrace, it is that business as usual in county offices no longer will suffice.

The people who really own the county, the taxpayers and the voters, deserve better then they have received from some of their elected officials recently. And they have made it clear that they demand better.

They have made it clear they are sick and tired of petty thieves and morally corrupt politicians tenaciously holding on to public positions in the face of all the evidence.

And they know there cannot be any arbitrary conclusion to the search for corruption, that it must go on until every last scoundrel is discovered, purged, and punished.

Summit County will not tolerate low standards for those who conduct the public’s business. Four former elected officials now stand as proof of that. But this is no time to relax.

Lynn Slaby and David Troutman and Jim Davis were present when I challenged the project 91 corruption. They did nothing to help.

Again, in the year 2000 another editorial appeared on Sept. 5 about Tim Davis.

His administration was full of corruption. “The bribery and kickback scandal to which Davis responded too slowly and with too many denials that trusted lieutenants Wm. Hartung and Cindy Peters were involved flowed not only from charter flaws, but from those in whom the executive put his faith. The governing laws weren’t bad. The people were.” This was according to an Akron Beacon Journal editorial and that was true then and now.

The new police chief protects poor police behavior and the sheriff treats judges in a special manner. These people are the same abusive “scratch your back” politicians this county has always known.

When they’re caught for evil deeds they walk away from their sins. When they’re fined or penalized they ignore their penalties but the common person is supposed to pay before they meet any other obligations. One above and one below. Nothing has changed.

Prosecutor’s plea bargain convictions. They scare people with threats of excessive penalties so they will be scared into copping a deal. This is not the pursuit of justice. If someone is not guilty they are afraid that they will be crucified anyway. So they strike a deal out of fear. That’s what happened to Brand Britton.

Their cronies can do any God-awful thing and walk away with little or no penalty.

The buddy system of fairness, which permeates our society, is in business, government, and every faction of our nation. This leads to moral decay. Rules have to be applied fairly to have balance and equality in our society, as well as a world as a whole to find peace. We are all Gods’ equal children. In his eyes, there are no boundaries of nations or individuals. We all have a chance for salvation.

We allow unfairness to prevail and when unjust circumstances create unjust spirits we condemn the individual rather than correcting the abuse of the system. The symptom leads back to unfair leadership. Ungodliness rules our nation and the total world. Since we are the shining hope of the world, it is our task to cleanse our institutions and in this manner we will bring peace to the world. The time is at hand.

In the year 2002, the county of summit and the city of Akron have allowed a murder to be obstructed and gone unpunished. My literature was passed out over two years ago. Judges, editors, and police have ignored my plea for justice. Since this city and county is typical of the cities and counties of the nation as a whole, we truly live in an “evil empire”. When we abuse our own people with lies and deception, what makes anyone think that we would be fair with other nations of the world? We must first cast out the evil in ourselves if we ever expect the world to follow our ideals.