BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—Bucyrus City Law Director Brandon Gobrecht made an unsuccessful attempt to persuade the city council to excuse Councilwoman Carolyn Shireman’s absence following her recent arrest on serious charges, including second-degree felony theft and misdemeanor intimidation.
During the council meeting, Gobrecht informed members that Shireman had been arrested but had not yet been indicted. He reassured the council that there was currently no liability for the City of Bucyrus concerning the situation and that he would be closely monitoring developments.
Gobrecht explained the legal process, noting that in Ohio, a preliminary hearing is typically held within 10 to 15 days of when a defendant is charged, during which the state must demonstrate probable cause for the charges. He pointed out that Shireman waived her preliminary hearing, which means the case will now be presented to a grand jury. He emphasized that this waiver is a common strategic decision and does not imply guilt or innocence.
If the grand jury decides to indict Shireman, the case will move to the Common Pleas Court for arraignment. Gobrecht stressed that Shireman is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
However, Shireman’s current house arrest prevents her from attending council meetings. While Gobrecht noted that the council is not legally obligated to excuse her absence, he recommended doing so in the interest of justice.
This suggestion was met with immediate pushback from Councilwoman Vicki Dishon, who stated that she had viewed Shireman’s initial appearance video on social media. Dishon pointed out that while Shireman had sought permission to attend doctor’s appointments, she did not request permission to attend council meetings. Since Shireman didn’t care enough to ask for permission to attend council meetings, Dishon said she does not support excusing her absences from the meetings.
Council President Kurt Fankhauser then called for a motion from the floor to excuse Shireman’s absence, but no council member responded, resulting in no motion being made. Therefore, Shireman’s absence from Tuesday’s meeting is unexcused.