Skidmore indicted on six counts, hearing canceled
MANSFIELD – Michael Skidmore is in jail again.
Skidmore, who is accused of striking the two guards July 9 while they were attempting to detain him during a commissioners meeting, was indicted on six counts and arrested Wednesday after a special session of the Richland County grand jury. His case was presented to Judge James DeWeese and special prosecutor Margaret Tomaro of the Ohio Attorney General’s office, according to Richland County Court’s website.
The indictment was a day ahead of his scheduled hearing in front of Municipal Court Judge Frank Ardis, which has been canceled.
According to the indictment, Skidmore was officially charged with four felonies and two misdemeanor charges.
The felonies included two counts of felonious assault for “knowingly causing serious physical harm” to Richland County courthouse security officers Chuck Kochis and Timothy Norris.
He was also charged with two first-degree misdemeanor counts of assault, one for each guard.
Kochis was bitten on the cheek during the incident and Norris was struck repeatedly in the head. The attack led Norris to fire his gun, which struck a wall.
A third felony count was handed down for inducing panic by causing the evacuation of the Richland County Administration Building. The fourth was for obstructing official business by preventing, obstructing or delaying performance by a public official.
“The offense created a risk of physical harm to Richland County Commissioners,” the indictment said.
Calls to Skidmore’s attorney Anica Blazef-Horner were not returned.
Skidmore’s bond was again set for $100,000 cash bond and personal recognizance, and he was ordered not to have contact with Norris, Kochis, Stacey Crall, Kelly Cicolani and commissioners Marilyn John, Tim Wert and Gary Utt. He was also ordered not to enter the Richland County Administration Building and courthouse.
The case is now in the hands of the Ohio Attorney General’s office, spokeswoman Jill Del Greco confirmed Thursday.
“Our Special Prosecutions Section was requested by the Richland County Prosecutor’s Office to handle the prosecution of the assault case involving Michael Skidmore,” Del Greco said.
Skidmore had been out of jail on bond and under electronic monitoring since July 14.
Authorities previously searched his 719 Bricker Road home for evidence that he planned the incident at the courthouse, a search warrant affidavit showed.
The BCI collected video recording and storage equipment or devices, computers, electronics, and financial records pertaining to the purchase of those items. They also collected personal communications in electronic or written form, which they believed could “illustrate the suspect’s motives regarding any planned or potential criminal acts,” the affidavit said.
Another search warrant was filed July 14 for Skidmore’s OhioHealth MedCentral health records, court documents showed.
Court documents did not list Skidmore’s future court dates.
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