Bridge owner/demolition contractor face contempt charges.
U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley Tuesday set a criminal contempt hearing for Bellaire Bridge owner Lee Chaklos after learning Chaklos apparently failed to disclose that there are $1.5 million worth of liens against the span, according to lawyer Dan Guida.
Guida represented the city of Benwood at a mediation hearing before Marbley on Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio.
The criminal contempt hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. Sept. 10, court officials with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio confirmed. They said an official order is expected to be filed by the judge later this week, which will provide more details regarding the reason for the hearing.
Chaklos said he was “not at liberty to say anything about the case,” and referred all comment to Benwood officials.
Guida said Chaklos will have to show why he shouldn’t be held in criminal contempt. The judge also could refer the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution, he added.
Guida said during Tuesday’s mediation hearing, he produced documents to the court showing there were three separate liens against the bridge totaling $1.5 million.
He declined to discuss specifics about the liens, but said they were filed by groups who had invested in the bridge with Chaklos more than two years ago with the intent of making a profit on the sale of the scrap metal from the bridge.
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