Fox, Schuler set for arraignment

Michael Fox

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By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer Updated 7:54 AM Tuesday, November 3, 2009

CINCINNATI — Longtime Butler County politician Michael Fox is set to appear in federal court Nov. 12 for arraignment on charges the U.S. Attorney’s Office is calling public corruption.

Fox and Columbus-area attorney Robert C. Schuler are set to appear before Magistrate Judge Timothy Hogan and enter a plea on an eight-county indictment unsealed Thursday, Oct. 29.

Fox — former state lawmaker, county commissioner and county Children Services director — and Schuler are accused of conspiring to improperly benefit from a $2.75 million fiber optics contract with the county.

Federal authorities say they found in a three-year investigation into public corruption in Butler County that Schuler, owner of the fiber-optics firm NORMAP, wired then-commissioner Fox $460,000 while his company profited off a contract with the county that Fox helped him secure.

The indictment alleges the two profited from the deal and failed to report it on their income-tax returns. It also accuses Fox of not properly reporting income he was receiving from other companies doing business with the county, and accuses Schuler of lying to a grand jury.

Fox and his attorneys have issued statements hinting they will fight the charges, saying he “will be vindicated when the facts come out at trial.”

Schuler’s attorney has not issued a statement.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or jsweigart@coxohio.com.

Michael  A. Fox

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