Tales of An Economic Hitman

Erie County Special Prosecutor: Does Elsebeth Have Access To Cash?
Tuesday, June 7, 2005, 10:27 AM
Erie County Special Prosecutor: Does Elsebeth Have Access To Cash?

According to sources close to the Erie County Grand Jury, Erie County special prosecutor Daniel Kasaris inquired about whether or not Dr. Elsebeth Baumgartner had “access to cash.”

EV has been learned that Kasaris, a special prosecutor assigned to the case by Erie County Prosecutor Kevin Baxter wanted to obtain a $100,000 cash only bond in order to hold Baumgartner in jail indefinitely. Kasaris refused to comment on the case and deferred all questions to a Cuyahoga County Media Representative. The Cuyahoga Media Representative did not return phone calls made to her office.

Records show that Baumgartner has never failed to appear in court – yet the special prosecutor insisted on issuing a warrant for her arrest as opposed to issuing court summons which would allow peaceful interaction between citizens and the court system. As of Tuesday morning, Baumgartner's indictment on “Grand Theft Auto” charges has not been made public.

Kasaris explained to other court personnel that law enforcement’s intentions were to obtain the indictment last Thursday before she could post bond from Sandusky Municipal Court. Kasaris said he wanted to obtain the indictment before she was released in order to keep Baumgartner in the Erie County Jail until a hearing could be scheduled.

Baumgartner was arrested on May 20, 2005 for alleged probation violations. (See this post for summary of those events) Baumgartner was held for 12 days in the Ottawa County Detention Facility without bond, and then restored to probation under unusual probation conditions that included that she not be allowed to report criminal wrongdoing of private citizens.

Baumgartner’s legal problems started in 2002 after she was charged with a crime for addressing the Port Clinton City Council meeting on January 2, 2002 about Erie County Prosecutor Kevin Baxter.

In 2002, Kevin Baxter's company Island Express Boat sought a public contract with the City of Port Clinton. Baumgartner has asserted that a company owned by a public official would not be allowed to hold a public contract if that public official owned more than 5% of the company as spelled out in ORC 2921.42. Records show that Erie County Prosecutor Kevin Baxter owned 30% of Island Express. Baumgartner has also asserted that Island Express illegally obtained federal grant funding while a public official owned 30% of the company.

Records show that Joe Fratoe, a personal friend and business associate of Kevin Baxter pressed a criminal charge against Baumgartner after she questioned the business arrangement at the public meeting in her capacity as an attorney at law.

Baumgartner is a federal grants expert with experience in biotech technology patent transfer. According to Baumgartner, she dabbled in criminal law after being approached by a young African American woman who alleged that she was coerced into sex by Erie County Prosecutor Kevin Baxter during a criminal proceeding in which she was to act as a witness.

Baumgartner has now served over 243 days in maximum felony confinement on nonviolent misdemeanors, which directly stemmed from her reporting alleged crimes involving Erie County Prosecutor Kevin Baxter.

The Erie County Prosecutor has also attempted to use his office to retaliate against this writer. After receiving dismissed charges related to a domestic violence charge from the Sandusky Municipal Court, Erie County Prosecutor Kevin Baxter arranged to have the same dismissed case presented to a Grand Jury in hopes to obtain a felony indictment.

The Grand Jury refused to indict this writer.