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Mike Fox pleads 'not guilty' to accepting bribes and kickbacks

Michael A. Fox leaves the Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse in downtown Cincinnati after a hearing on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. He and Robert C. Schuler have been charged with conspiracy

Staff photo by Samantha Grier Michael A. Fox leaves the Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse in downtown Cincinnati after a hearing on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. He and Robert C. Schuler have been charged with conspiracy "to improperly benefit from Butler County contracts involving a (fiber optics) company doing business with the county," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Photos: Fox charged in 2009

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By Michael D. Pitman, Staff Writer Updated 3:27 PM Wednesday, August 18, 2010

CINCINNATI — Former Butler County commissioner and state legislator Michael A. Fox pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, Aug. 17, to all the federal charges he faces.

A written not guilty plea was entered in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati by Fox’s attorneys.

According to prosecutors, Fox allegedly took $460,000 in kickbacks in exchange for helping Robert C. Shuler, a Columbus-area attorney, land a multimillion-dollar county contract for his business.

Fox is also charged with mail fraud, conspiracy and filing a false tax return.

Shuler is Fox’s co-defendant in the case and has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, filing a false tax return and perjury.

With the written plea, the scheduled arraignment Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 18, was canceled.

On Aug. 4, prosecutors amended the indictment against Fox to refer to his actions as “a bribery and kickback scheme.”

Fox’s attorneys, Ralph Kohnen and Aaron Herzig, have claimed the entire case is a politically-motivated attack. Fox has spent more than 30 years as a state legislator, county commission and Butler County Children Services director.

It is uncertain when the case will go to trial. U.S. District Judge Sandra Beckwith granted order earlier this month to stay the original Oct. 4 trial date.

Kohnen did not offer any additional comments concerning the written plea. But he said there will be additional conferences to determine future court proceedings and a trial date.

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