On June 11, 2007 I sent an email to the Fox News Show, The O'Reilly Factor, informing them that we have a situation brewing in Scioto County Common Pleas Court concerning the possible release of a convicted child rapist. The O'Reilly Factor host, Bill O'Reilly has been doing stories on judges in Ohio and other states that have been "soft" of sentencing rapists, including releasing men/women imprisoned for rape, yet released before completing their entire sentence.
When I saw this network was doing these stories I forwarded them information about the former Wheelersburg Football Coach/Teacher, who raped his own daughter. The case involves John Michael Schmidt. Schmidt was sentenced to serve 7 years for raping his daughter at least twice but sources claim it was over 100 times. Individuals that claim to have been on the Scioto County Grand Jury have stated that a diary was kept with each incident, so Schmidt was given a "slap on the wrist" based on this information.
Bill O'Reilly has done numerous stories on judges that have been soft on rape and his producers are watching this case in Scioto County Common Pleas Court with high interest. Why would a judge release a former educator back into society before doing his entire sentence? Was there some type of secret deal worked out with Judge Howard Harcha III and Schmidt's attorney, Mike Mearan for Schmidt to do his first 3 year sentence and be let free on his second sentence? Only time will tell.
Bill O'Reilly has done numerous stories on judges that have been soft on rape and his producers are watching this case in Scioto County Common Pleas Court with high interest. Why would a judge release a former educator back into society before doing his entire sentence? Was there some type of secret deal worked out with Judge Howard Harcha III and Schmidt's attorney, Mike Mearan for Schmidt to do his first 3 year sentence and be let free on his second sentence? Only time will tell.
If not for the Shawnee Sentinel, Schmidt would have been released on probation and done no prison time. Attorney Mearan was angered and outraged that his client was going to prison because we published the truth. People in the courtroom the day Mearan exploded emailed the O'Reilley Factor producers to back our story.
Maybe if we can get some national news media attention on these judges who work out secret deals behind closed doors instead of coming out in the public domain for citizens to watch, just maybe our justice system can change for the better. And maybe these judges will be held accountable for their dirty deals.
More on this story when Judge Harcha III makes his ruling whether or not to release this sexual pedophile on the public!
John Welton (DD)
