Lorain County Prosecutor hearing and chief of staff facing criminal charges

The hearing will be held before Guest Judge Patrick Carroll.

Tomlinson is charged with tampering with evidence, intimidation and attempted bribery.

Burge is charged with tampering with evidence and intimidation.

Former Franklin County Prosecutor Ronald O’Brien was named special prosecutor for the case.

According to a twenty-two page report from the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, the charges stem from allegations made by former employee Jennifer Battistelli.

According to the report, Battistelli began working at the prosecutor’s office in January 2021 and later that spring began dating Tomlinson.

Battistelli claimed Tomlinson became obsessed with her and called her a hundred times a day.

During the summer of 2023, Battistelli filed a formal complaint against Tomlinson and resigned.

She said Tomlinson and Burge attempted to make false statements in an attempt to get her to drop her complaints.

19 News reached out to Tomlinson and Burge for comment but did not receive a response.

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