CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Derek J. Myers, candidate for Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District and former Editor-in-Chief of NewsPatrol, Inc. d/b/a Scioto Valley Guardian, and his publication, The Guardian, have filed a groundbreaking civil rights lawsuit against Pike County, Ohio, its Commissioners, Sheriff Tracy Evans, Deputy Josh Carver, and Captain Jim Burchette, demanding justice for egregious violations of the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution.
“This was a case of a judge and prosecutor, Rob Junk weaponizing the justice system in order to keep Mr. Myers from publishing the truth and protecting our freedoms,” Myers’ campaign said in a statement on Wednesday. “The charges were nothing but ‘JUNK’.”
The lawsuit stems from actions taken by Pike County officials in response to the lawful publication of edited portions of public testimony from a highly publicized criminal trial of George Wagner IV. The article, published on October 28, 2022, contained testimony of co-defendant Jake Wagner, who was allowed to conceal his testimony from television cameras, audio recording, and photographers, despite killing eight people, execution style while they slept.
Myers, a journalist, lawfully obtained the information from an audio recording of the trial provided by an unidentified source. The subsequent arrest and prosecution of Myers for felony wiretapping, along with the seizure of his electronic communication devices, exemplify an alarming disregard for constitutional rights. The charges were not pursued by a Pike County Grand Jury and the charge was dismissed against Myers.
In a scathing statement, Myers continued, “We must stop electing officials who are gutting our constitution and trying redefine our American values.”
The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages; the return of unlawfully seized communication devices, and an award for attorneys’ fees.
Myers is being represented by two law firms, Mezibov Butler from Cincinnati and The Robinson Law Firm of Cleveland; the latter of whom has been legal counsel to President Donald Trump.
