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| Cincinnati Is Owed A Wad |
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The clerk's office reports the city's share of uncollected bail bond forfeitures is at least $960,000 -- and is likely to be substantially more. That as-yet unknown sum reflects debts involving property bonds where no action has been taken to seize real estate. All of the bonds were posted by accused criminals who did not want to sit in jail while awaiting court dates and trials. Money from forfeited bonds is earmarked to combat drug crimes on Cincinnati's streets. But the cops haven't been getting all the cash owed, apparently because of bottlenecks at clerk's office in the courthouse. The bonds were forfeited because the suspects didn't keep their written guarantee to show up in front of a judge. County officials are supposed to grab money and property posted as bonds, but have been slow to act -- some of the forfeitures date back to the mid-1990s. Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Patricia M. Clancy -- whose office is responsible for bail bonds -- disclosed the sum owed to the City of Cincinnati. Clancy was responding to Cincinnati Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls, who last month said the money was needed to pay for police to fight street crime. The city faces a $50 million budget deficit and may have to law off cops. Clancy wrote Qualls yesterday:
"In response to your questions, the City would be entitled to receive a portion of the bond forfeitures collected based upon certified judgments from bail bondsmen and their insurance carriers of $960,000. This amount represents the gross amount of the bonds, and does not reflect the possible reductions permitted under the statute. The City's portion of the bond forfeitures against individuals (parents and family members who posted property) will be provided to you shortly. The Clerk of Courts has placed liens on the individuals and the property posted,but has not taken any action to foreclose on real estate of the parents and family members to date."
Clancy said she's got lawyers on the job: "Also, the Clerk of Courts has been working with the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office to collect on the certified judgments against bail bondmen and their insurance carriers. The Prosecutor's Office met with the Common Pleas and Municipal Judges on this issue and is working with the bondsmen and their insurance carriers to collect on the certified judgments. We look forward to a successful resolution in the near future."
Any money collected on a bond forfeiture goes to the city if the city prosecuted the case through its law department. If the County Prosecutor handles the criminal case -- a drug case, for example -- the money is split with 80% of the forfeited bond going to the Cincinnati police, and 20% to the prosecutor's office. The Daily Bellwether has been reporting on the uncollected bail bonds since last month and you can read all the earlier posts by by clicking here. There are a lot of comments -- mostly anonymous -- that indicate there is a backstory that has yet to unfold publicly.
I know that the bond forfeiture procedure is not as simple as most people believe it to be. There are enough variables to it to make it a very complicated procedure to process and then attempt to collect and keep any monies that are collected on these forfeited bonds. For one, just because someone does not show up for court, does not mean that their bond will be forfeited. The judge has to order that to be done. The clerk has no say for that to happen. Even if the bond is forfeited and attempts are made for collection of the bond are taken, the defendant may end up being brought back into custody by some means, and then this forfeited bond for whatever amount can be requested to be set aside and granted and then you have no bond forfeiture anymore. Maybe some people should take a lesson on how a bond works from start to finish and maybe then they would understand on how difficult the bond world can be. Mr Sloat, so-called reporter, just thought your readers might like to hear the rest of the story before passing judgment on a subject where some people may not understand what they are talking about.
ReplyDeleteWhy does Ms Clancey keep letting the crooked Bondsmen, who are making their own powers, keep writing bonds. Mr Ronald Trimble has been making his own powers for years, with the help of the Clerks Office, he has been stealing from the tax payers for years. where does all the money go thats being paid to the crooks at the Clerks Office. It goes as far up as Ms Clancey. Why would she let him continue to write bonds after November 2009 when she admitted to Mr Todd Portune that she knew she could not collect the money owed the county because the powers were not any good. But the million dollar question is Why was he allowed up to October of 2010 to write bonds and accrue more debt and more bond forfeitures. Where is the money going Ms Clancey? Why has there not been a special prosecutor called in from the State attorney Generals Office? Why have you allowed these bondsmen to continue to write bad bonds and make their own powers? Why hasn't the department of insurance been involved in this investigation? You called them on Ms. Henneke supposedly for soliciting, you have helped these bondsmen commit crimes. You need to be charged with accessory for your role in this. When the FBI comes in and arrests all of these people what are you going to do then. Watch channel 12 on Sunday Newsmakers and hear what Mr Portune has to say. I bet you can't answer those questions or won't. Whats the matter has the cat got your tongue. Wheres your yes madam no madam Mr Kevin O'Brien, the next big liar. He has helped the brotherhood commit these crimes too, I'm sure to help you cover up dirty doings. Come Monday everyone will know what crooks you guys are.
ReplyDeleteQuite having your flunkies write about bond Forfeitures on every article. We are talking about the crooks and what you knew all along and the fact that you helped them commit these crimes. Quite trying to pretend like its some one elses fault. YOU, Ms Clancey committed crimes covering up the fraud and corruption inbetween the clerks office and the bondsmen
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should take a lesson from this do you understand a bondman printing their own powers and the clerks office accepting them. THATS WHATS GOING ON AND TO THIS VERY DAY. CROOKS
ReplyDeleteWe are talking about good bonds these are bad bonds that Ms Clancey has continued to allow to happen. She has known since last November 2009 that most of the bondsmen down here were making their own powers, in reality no insurance company to back them up in order to collect them money due. She knew and allowed these crooked bondsmen to continue using these fake powers.
ReplyDeleteDid she ever call the Department of Insurance and report them. No she only called on Ms Henneke saying hse was soliciting. She helped these bondmen commit crimes. Maybe you should take a lesson on th crookiness of the Clerk of Court's Office or are you one of them trying to make excuses for them.
You don't know what you are talking about
ReplyDeleteYou don't know what you are talking about
ReplyDeleteThe clerks have plenty to say when they accepting money for the ill-legal bonds. Getting paid to let people out of jaiul that shouldn't be out
ReplyDeleteYou are talking like Mr O'Brien and Ms Clancey, quite letting them write bad bonds with powers they amde theirselves and maybe then we'll be able to get the money
ReplyDeleteI have tapes of someone in pre-trial receiving money from Leroy Jones and one of the front line clerks receiving money from Ronald Trimble but is anyone interested, no because this is whats goes on everyday, payoffs. Ronald Trimble, Leroy Jones, Randall Wyatt, Wayne Knight, Jr Spisak they are all parts of the brotherhood. Now we have a new player or an old player coming back, he's the next one
ReplyDelete