Ohio State Executive - Attorney General
State Government: Executive Offices | Attorney General / Department of Justice
Recent News About Ohio State Executive - Attorney General
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Austin Master Services Fails to Clean Up Waste, AG Yost Requests Judge to Hold the Facility in Contempt
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is asking a Belmont County judge to find Austin Master Services and Brad D. Domitrovitsch, who is in control of the company, in contempt for failing to meet the court’s deadline to clean up the illegal levels of fracking waste stored at its recycling facility in Martins Ferry.Yost expressed the critical nature of the situation, stating, "The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated." He emphasized, “We are operating quickly to make sure contamination can be avoided and we protect Ohioans and the waterways we share.”...
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AG Yost Recognizes Youngstown Students for Essays That Aim to Curb Youth Violence
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost recently commended 10 Youngstown students as finalists in the "Do the Write Thing Program," aimed at addressing youth violence. AG Yost, in collaboration with the national program, recognized the students for their insightful essays on violence and solutions for their community.In a booklet containing the writings of the Youngstown finalists, Yost expressed his appreciation for the students' candor and thoughtfulness, stating, “They tackled the difficult subject with candor, thoughtfulness and insight beyond their years.”The program,...
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AG Yost Recognizes Canton Students in Do the Write Thing Program, Which Targets a Reduction in Youth Violence
(CANTON, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost recognized 20 students from the Canton City School District this morning as finalists in the "Do the Write Thing" program, aimed at reducing youth violence. One of the students, Nick Jones from Early College Middle School, shared his perspective on growing up in a violent environment, stating, "For most of my life so far I lived in a low-income area... it was normal for us."Jones pointed out the impact of desensitization on the surge of youth violence, a belief echoed by many in communities across the country. Attorney...
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Mentor Attorney Arrested in Sex Sting
(LISBON, Ohio) — Agents with the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force arrested an attorney from Mentor, Jeffrey McGaffick, for allegedly engaging in illegal activities during an undercover operation. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene made the announcement today, revealing that McGaffick, 62, has been charged with both engaging in prostitution and possession of criminal tools.According to reports, McGaffick, who practices law in the Cleveland area with a focus on real estate title work and claims to have served as a part-time...
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AG Yost Seeks Public’s Feedback on New Protections for Signatures
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is seeking the public's feedback on potential new protections for signatures. Yost emphasized the importance of this issue, stating, "A gap in state law has left your signature – a symbol of your identity – vulnerable to misuse." He further added, "It’s your signature, and we want your input on how to protect it."The request for comments aims to gather opinions on a proposed rule that would require businesses to adhere to specific guidelines when using a person's signature for purposes unrelated to a transaction. Yost's office is...
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AG Yost Asks Ohio Supreme Court to Narrow ‘Unlawful’ Injunction on HB 68
Attorney General Dave Yost has taken emergency action by filing a motion with the Ohio Supreme Court, asserting that Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Michael Holbrook exceeded his judicial authority by halting the implementation of House Bill 68. Yost's filing contends that Judge Holbrook's decision on April 16 to issue a broad injunction on the entire law was an overreach. "One judge from one county does not have more power than the governor’s veto pen," Yost stated in response to the injunction placed on HB 68 by Judge Holbrook. The Attorney General argued that the...
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Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost Highlights Environmental Team's Success on Earth Day 2024
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Mention the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and Ohio residents probably think about its efforts to protect consumers, combat human trafficking, or investigate crime. But the office also plays a crucial role in safeguarding the state’s environment. Today, in honor of the global observance of Earth Day, Attorney General Dave Yost is spotlighting the accomplishments of his Environmental Enforcement Section thus far in 2024."Earth Day serves as a powerful reminder of our duty to help preserve the planet for future generations," stated Attorney General Dave...
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Stark County Attorney Who Swindled Clients Sentenced to Prison
A former Canton-area attorney has been sentenced to prison and ordered to pay restitution after pleading guilty to stealing from his clients. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Stark County Sheriff George T. Maier made the announcement regarding the sentencing of William Sparks, 71, of Jackson Township.Yost emphasized the severity of the crime, stating, “Robbing elderly clients behind their backs is a disgraceful betrayal of trust that warrants stiff consequences. This sentence should serve as a warning that targeting older Ohioans for exploitation won’t be tolerated.”...
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Citing Constitutional Concerns, Yost Urges DOJ to Scrap ‘Red Flag’ Gun-Confiscation Program
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and 18 other state attorneys general have expressed their opposition to a new federal program that advocates for the aggressive enforcement of "red flag" gun-confiscation laws. In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Yost and his counterparts argue that the National Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Resource Center, launched by the Department of Justice in March, undermines fundamental rights in an effort to reduce gun violence.Yost emphasized the importance of protecting citizens' rights, stating, "The solution to gun...
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Grant Funding Available to Aid Ohio Courts in Reporting Criminal Data to BCI: Yost's Office Earmarks $2.45 Million for Local Improvements
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — The office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has announced the availability of $2.45 million in federal grant money aimed at aiding Ohio courts in reporting criminal data to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). Yost emphasized the importance of ensuring the state's criminal-records database is accurate and up-to-date, stating, "Every Ohioan must be able to trust that our background check system is as comprehensive and current as possible."The National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP), which has been instrumental in enhancing the...
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In a Victory for AG Yost and 20 Colleagues, Court Rules That Emissions Rule Constitutes Federal Overreach
A federal judge in Kentucky has declared the Federal Highway Administration’s Emissions Rule unlawful, agreeing with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and 20 of his counterparts that the restrictions both exceed the authority Congress granted the Agency and encroach on the authority of the states.“It is my duty to defend the constitutional balance of power and ensure that the voices of Ohioans are not silenced by federal overreach,” Yost said. “The Emissions Rule is just one of many attempts by the Biden administration to circumvent the legislative process and limit states’...
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Report: Ohio’s Capital-Punishment System Remains Unworkable
Attorney General Dave Yost has reiterated the need for Ohio's elected leaders to address the state's capital-punishment system, calling it "unworkable." The release of the "2023 Capital Crimes Report" highlights the inefficiencies and delays within the system, with Yost stating, "No criminal penalty – capital or otherwise – should carry an empty promise of justice."According to the report, since Ohio's death-penalty law was enacted in 1981, 336 people have received a combined 341 death sentences, but only 56 sentences have been carried out. The state's last execution took...
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Ex-School Resource Officer Indicted for Sexual Battery
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today that a former school resource officer, Mason Williams, has been indicted by a Preble County grand jury for allegedly having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student. Yost stated, "A former school resource officer accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student has been indicted by a Preble County grand jury." Williams, 26, of Eaton, faces charges of two counts of sexual battery and one count of tampering with evidence, as specified by Yost who also mentioned, "Williams was charged with two...
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Contempt Charges Filed Against Robocaller Operating While Under Ban
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, along with seven other state attorneys general, have announced that John Spiller II, a co-owner of a robocall business, is facing contempt charges for defying a court order prohibiting him from placing or facilitating robocalls. Yost stated, "This guy is a recidivist robocaller and a notorious name in the robocall industry. It’s time to sever his phone lines for good."The contempt charges against Spiller stem from a June 2020 lawsuit accusing his company, Rising Eagle Capital Group, of bombarding consumers with deceptive robocalls offering...
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AG Yost Pursues Legal Action Against Austin Master for Environmental Violations
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is seeking legal action against Austin Master Services, an oil and gas waste services company, for environmental violations. Yost aims to halt the illegal storage of excess quantities of brine and drilling waste at the company's facility in Martins Ferry.In a statement, Attorney General Yost expressed concern over the situation, stating, "This company’s negligence is threatening to put Ohio communities and our natural resources in jeopardy." He emphasized the urgency of the matter by adding, "We are acting quickly to try...
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Former Quartermaster Indicted in Theft From Central Ohio VFW Post
A former quartermaster of a Columbus Veterans of Foreign Wars post, Guy A. Andonian, has been indicted by a grand jury on four felony counts for stealing over $35,000 from the post’s charitable accounts. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips made the announcement regarding the indictment.Yost expressed his disapproval of Andonian's actions, stating, “Stealing from a VFW post isn’t just a theft of money – it’s a betrayal of the very values our veterans fought to uphold.”Andonian is facing charges including engaging in a pattern of...
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Ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder Indicted on 10 State Felony Counts
Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder has been indicted on multiple state felony charges alleging misuse of campaign money and ethics violations. Attorney General Dave Yost announced that the indictment includes one count that would permanently ban Householder from holding public office again in Ohio.“This case seeks to hold Mr. Householder accountable for his actions under state law, and I expect that the results will permanently bar him from public service in Ohio,” said Yost. “State crimes have state penalties, and a conviction will ensure that there will be no...
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Yost Secures $1.5 Million Settlement in Illegal Recycling Case
Baumann’s Recycling Center has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle an environmental lawsuit centered on an illegal landfill operated by the company for nearly a decade, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today."I am committed to protecting Ohio’s environment from unlawful contamination," Yost said. "As an avid outdoorsman, I find it to be imperative that we leave a limited footprint for future generations."Yost’s office filed a consent order this morning in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court outlining the agreement, which is subject to the approval of Judge...
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Ohio Leads Brief Supporting Federalism in Texas Border Case
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is leading a coalition of 22 attorneys general in urging a U.S. Appeals Court to uphold Texas’ right to enforce a state immigration law amid a challenge by the federal government.“States have a right to enforce their own laws – especially when federal inaction leads to a crisis like the one at the Southern border,” Yost said. “Ohioans shouldn’t have to pay the price for failed immigration policies.”In an amicus brief filed in United States v. Texas, the attorneys general take exception with a recent decision by a U.S. District Court...
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AG Yost Urges U.S. Supreme Court to Adopt Legal Test for Presidential Immunity
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, along with attorneys general from Alaska and Wyoming, have submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court urging the establishment of a legal test for presidential immunity. The brief, filed in the case of Trump v. United States, argues that defining the limits of presidential immunity is crucial due to the potential for future prosecutions involving this issue.Yost emphasized the importance of establishing clear guidelines for presidential immunity, stating, "A line of normal behavior has been crossed... it seems likely that we will...