FAYETTE COUNTY, Ohio — A lawsuit brought by the former Mayor of New Holland against two citizens and a police officer has been dismissed by a judge.
Former mayor Clair “Butch” Betzko filed suit in 2018 against citizens Teresa Bayer, Karen Francis, and former New Holland Police Sergeant Brad Mick, seeking nearly $350,000 in alleged damages.
Mick, as you may recall from the Guardian’s previous reporting, was fired by the village in 2018 after he charged Betzko, former police chief Jason Lawless, and former police captain and interim chief, David Conrad with criminal charges.
The charges stemmed from paperwork, Mick said, which was falsified by village officials, including Betzko, and sent to the state attorney general.
The lawsuit was filed after Betzko claimed that Bayer, Francis, and Mick conspired with a fourth person, only identified as “John Doe” in the suit to defame the former mayor and oust him from office. In the case, Betzko outlined allegations that Mick falsely arrested him on the two criminal charges in an effort of the ousting. Betzko also alleged in his suit the 2018 charges against him were falsified, malicious, an abuse of Mick’s powers, and that the alleged crimes were dismissed in Pickaway County.
Mick’s lawyers argued saying the charges of obstruction of justice and complicity to felony forgery were justified, and that a search warrant conducted on the mayor’s office and the police department was rightfully signed by a local judge. Fayette County Court of Common Pleas Judge Steven P. Beathard agreed.
“Betzko has failed to provide any evidence, much less clear and convincing, that Mick made any statements or engaged in any act, with actual malice,” the judge ruled on Friday. “The criminal cases were dismissed without prejudice, which does not denominate innocence. The Court finds from the evidence that the criminal actions were commenced with probable cause.”
As for Bayer and Francis’ involvement in the lawsuit, Betzko alleged that the two private citizens attacked him on social media by posting defaming comments about his handling of governmental affairs. Betzko also alleged that the women erected “speed trap ahead” signs in their front yards, which hurt the village’s reputation. He also claimed that the two banded together with Mick to fabricate the criminal cases and embarrass the former mayor. Beathard disagreed.
“Francis co-authored a letter sent to various government agencies regarding her concerns with the state of affairs in the village,” the dismissal entry by the judge on Friday reads. “She also addressed [village] council at a public meeting with her concerns and referenced these in social media postings. Bayer had no input on the search warrant….she was also not involved in Mick’s decision to file criminal charges.”
Beathard also said, before dismissing the case, that the women were entitled to their opinion and since Betzko was an elected official, he was not immune from such criticism.
In 2019, a Pickaway County Judge ordered that Mick be given his job back. Betzko, whose term as mayor ended in 2019, did not seek re-election.
The dismissal entry issued on Friday can be read by clicking here.