Court file details texts allegedly sent by investigator to witnesses in case against prosecutor and chief of staff – Morning Journal

The Lorain County district attorney’s attorney and his chief of staff say text messages allegedly exchanged between the sheriff’s office investigator and the prosecutor’s former employee and a key witness detailed sexual advances toward her regard.

Lorain’s attorney, Michael Camera, filed notice in Elyria Municipal Court where charges were filed against prosecutor JD Tomlinson and chief of staff James Burge for representing them, according to court records.

Tomlinson and Burge face third-degree felony charges of intimidation of a witness and tampering with evidence.

Tomlinson also faces an additional charge of attempted bribery.

Camera’s 71-page filing includes statements informing the court that he intends to use several text messages between the woman and Lorain County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Robert Vansant, in addition to others , to corroborate the testimony of its clients.

Tomlinson and Burge have maintained their innocence and are due back in court on October 16 for the remainder of the arraignment hearing which continued from October 3.

In the text messages dated January, the writer, labeled as “Bobby Vansant577,” asks the woman, “It’s your turn to take pictures.”

The woman responds: “Want to send me photos?” »

“Bobby Vansant577” responded the next morning: “Maybe…he was drinking whiskey last night and may have been planning to ask you out for a drink.”

Shortly after, “Bobby Vansant577” said, “I mean, if you want pictures too… as long as I show you mine, show me yours.”

The woman replied, “No, I’m not ready to send photos. in fact, no one on this planet has sexy photos of me. it’s not my thing. Maybe I will be president one day lol.

“Bobby Vansant577” also sent the woman a message saying, “Girl…JD sold you in the paper.” When are you going to make him start and answer him for the way he treats you? That’s not fair to say at all.

Sheriff Phil Stammitti said he ordered an investigation into the relationship between Vansant and the woman.

Stammitti denied that any wrongdoing or inappropriate conduct had been found and did not consider Vansant’s conduct of the investigation to constitute a conflict of interest.

When asked if he had seen the text messages between the two, the sheriff denied the information was part of the investigation, as Vansant and the woman have denied any inappropriate behavior.

Stammitti said the two had known each other since elementary school.

He added that he believed in taking people “at their word.”

“As you indicated last week, (the woman) was questioned about the allegations made by Mr. Tomlinson regarding Captain Vansant’s actions toward her,” Stammitti said in an email. “His statement speaks for itself. She had no problem with Captain Vansant and in fact indicated that Mr. Tomlinson had a problem with his personal life.

“I had also previously sent you a letter from the Amherst Police Department, Sergeant Griffin, asking (the woman) if she had a complaint regarding Captain Vansant. Again, she said she had no complaints. The date of his response would be after the sending of the allegedly offensive texts.

“Again, the person making the complaint is Mr. Tomlinson, not (the woman).”

Vansant was also asked to comment on the text messages, however, Stammitti said in an email: “I can speak for him too.”

Vansant has so far not responded to questions from the Morning Journal.

Tomlinson had no comment regarding the documents.