BRECKSVILLE, Ohio — A Brecksville City Councilman is facing multiple felony charges after he allegedly helped funnel taxpayer dollars to a business he owns.
A Cuyahoga County Grand Jury on Tuesday returned a four-count indictment against 66-year-old John "Jack" Petsche, including three counts of having an unlawful interest in a public contract and another count of attempting the same. This comes after a roughly 10-month investigation.
Following his swearing-in to the Council in 2018, prosecutors say Petsche voted three times to give a city contract to USA Roofing Inc., which he founded in 1995 and still owns to this day. Petsche did not disclose his interest until August of last year, only after the company secured a $154,000 agreement to build the new Brecksville Police Station.
The city reached out to the Ohio Ethics Commission, which says it confirmed the allegations. In addition, Petsche is also accused of trying to secure a contract for his company to renovate the aquatics portion of the Brecksville Community Center.
"Public servants are held to the highest ethical standard," Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael C. O’Malley said in a statement. "This is a clear violation of the law."
An arraignment date for Petsche has not yet been announced. Should he be convicted, he could face up to five and a half years in prison.
3News has reached out to both Petsche and City Council President Mike Harwood for comment.
