Former Joplin Globe editor forced to resign after report issued over Ohio attorney general sex scandal

Former Joplin Globe Editor Edgar Simpson has been forced to resign as chief of staff to Ohio's attorney general.http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

The resignation came on the same day that the results of the investigation into the sex scandal surrounding the attorney general's office was released. That report ripped Simpson for "failing to address inappropriate behavior."

Simpson, the Dayton Daily News noted, was being paid $110,000 a year. He was a longtime friend of Attorney General Marc Dann and had worked with Dann's wife at the Warren, Ohio, newspaper.

A description of some of the activities that led to the firings of three officials and to the resignations of Simpson and scheduler Jessica Utovich was included in the report:

The investigation recommends the firing of Anthony Gutierrez, who runs Dann's general services division.

The finding against Gutierrez follows a month of turmoil and speculation at the office of Ohio's top law enforcer after harassment allegations by Cindy Stankoski and Vanessa Stout, both 26, were made public.

Gutierrez had been placed on unpaid leave after the women accused him of harassing them with vulgar remarks and unwanted come-ons.

Stankoski said she went to the apartment shared by Dann, Gutierrez and Communications Director Leo Jennings for pizza and drinks. She said she fell asleep drunk at the condo and when she was awoke, her pants were unbuttoned and Gutierrez was lying next to her in his underwear.

When it was apparent Stankoski had too much to drink, arrangements should have been made to get her home, said the investigation by Assistant Attorney General Ben Espy.

Stout alleged that Gutierrez repeatedly asked her for sex, suggesting she "owed" him for helping her land a state job.

The investigation also found that Gutierrez violated policies that prohibit driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The report detailed an incident where Gutierrez allegedly was drinking with other employees while driving a state vehicle.

Also, from the Chillicothe Gazette:

Also fired was Dann’s communications chief Leo Jennings who is accused of trying to get a worker to lie when interviewed under oath. Investigators say Edgar Simpson, Dann’s policy chief, was forced to resign for failing to address inappropriate behavior.