The Supreme Court of Ohio today publicly reprimanded a former candidate for Athens County prosecuting attorney for violating a professional conduct rule related to her misdemeanor conviction for breaking Ohio financial disclosure laws.

In a unanimous decision, the court adopted an agreement between the state’s Disciplinary Counsel and Susan L. Gwinn of Athens.

In the agreement, Gwinn acknowledged that during her campaign for office she improperly reported that she had loaned money to her campaign committee when she had actually received the loans from her brother and another individual. She was convicted on two misdemeanor charges for claiming on her campaign finance report that the funds were loans from herself.

The parties agreed that there were no aggravating factors and that Gwinn had no prior disciplinary record, was cooperative in the criminal case and disciplinary investigation, and showed evidence of good character and reputation. The agreement noted that she has also taken good-faith steps to address the consequences of her misconduct. Specifically, she has paid her friend back in full and signed a note to her brother with provisions to repay him.

2013-1247. Disciplinary Counsel v. Gwinn, Slip Opinion No. 2014-Ohio-101.

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