Page admits forging lawmaker’s signature

A former page admitted Tuesday that he forged the signature of a House speaker contender last year.

Carlos A. Arrigo, 20, pleaded guilty to attempted forgery and attempted taking the identity of another, both first-degree misdemeanors. A Franklin County judge ordered Arrigo, a college student at Ohio State University, to pay a $500 fine.

Arrigo will not face jail time unless he does not pay it all.

Last spring, Arrigo forged the electronic signature of Rep. Jim Butler, R-Oakwood, then a contender for House speaker.

In the forged email, Butler purportedly offered support to Hillsboro tea partier Barb Cole, who was challenging Rep. Cliff Rosenberger, R-Clarksville, in the May primary.

Support from an incumbent House Republican — especially a strong fundraiser such as Butler — would have boosted Cole’s candidacy. But the letter was fake, according to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office.

Rosenberger defeated Cole in the primary and went on to become speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives.

Arrigo was initially charged with felony forgery, which could have led to prison, but the charge was reduced. The Columbus Dispatch reported that Arrigo forged the letter to retaliate against Butler’s constituent aide after the two had a falling out.

jbalmert@gannett.com

Twitter: @jbalmert