Felony charges possible against city employee

By SHELLEY TERRY and STACY MILLBERG - Staff Writers
Star Beacon

December 01, 2008 11:35 pm

— ASHTABULA — A city employee was stopped for operating a vehicle while impaired Saturday night, making it his sixth driving-under-the-influence offense in 20 years, authorities said.
Carl Corbissero, an administrative assistant in the engineering department, reportedly was driving recklessly at a high speed on Route 20, near Corlew Field in Ashtabula Township, when deputies attempted to stop to him, Sheriff William Johnson said Monday.
Corbissero fled from police, and deputies ultimately were able to stop him on Interstate 90, Johnson said.
“There was alcohol involved,” Johnson said.
Corbissero consented to taking a breath-alcohol test, but Johnson would not comment further.
Corbissero breath-tested at 0.064, according to other sources.
Noncommercial drivers age 21 and older are considered legally drunk when their blood alcohol level is 0.08 or more, but if there are other infractions, like reckless driving, the driver can be ticketed if the breath test is 0.05 or more, according to Ohio’s drunk driving laws.
The deputy ticketed Corbissero for speeding, reckless operation and operating a vehicle while impaired-first offense, and City Solicitor Michael Franklin filed the charges as such, court officials said.
Late Monday afternoon, the Sheriff’s Department requested the city solicitor refile the OVI charge as a felony because it may be Corbissero’s sixth such offense in 20 years, Franklin said.
“I am evaluating that,” Franklin said Monday night.
The charges of reckless operation and speeding are both minor misdemeanors, court officials said.
Ashtabula Municipal and Ashtabula County Common Pleas courts records show Corbissero was found guilty of driving under the influence in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Corbissero’s arraignment is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, court officials said.
Corbissero could not be reached for comment Monday, but last year, he didn’t deny his past troubles, only that he was trying to straighten his life out.
Corbissero made the news shortly before the November 2007 election when he plastered his vehicle with large campaign signs promoting “Michael Franklin for City Solicitor.”
Corbissero then filed a complaint against the City Auditor Michael Zullo after taping a telephone conversation with him, about the signs. Zullo saw the signs and called Corbissero at his desk.
“Are you crazy?” asked Zullo, according to the tape recording, which Corbissero handed over to the police. Corbissero apparently taped the conversation without Zullo’s knowledge.
When asked whether Franklin would prosecute Corbissero, Franklin said: “Mr. Corbissero and I never had an attorney-client relationship, but there was a lot of publicity about his support for me. I haven’t made that decision yet. But if (the OVI charge) is refiled as a felony, it’s not my case.”
The case would be forwarded to an Ashtabula County grand jury.

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