T-L File Photo St. Clairsville resident Bill Brooks appears in Belmont County Western Division Court in June 2023 after being charged with disrupting a city council meeting the previous month.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A jury convicted St. Clairsville resident and former mayoral candidate Bill Brooks on charges related to disrupting a public meeting.

The verdict came on Wednesday in Belmont County Western Division County Court.

Brooks was charged with one count each of disrupting a public meeting and criminal trespass in connection with a St. Clairsville City Council meeting. Brooks was charged with criminal trespassing and disturbing a lawful meeting after he was escorted from the May 15, 2023, council meeting and public hearing for a zoning change.

Prior to the May 15, 2023, meeting, Brooks had been banned from attending council meetings following several altercations with city leaders. He allegedly called council members Terra Butler and Kristi Lipscomb derogatory terms, which led to the ban prior to his 2023 charges.

“The only thing I did was I called Terra Butler a harlot. I was being kind to just call her a harlot. It would be stupid to sit there and blow kisses or give the bird to somebody on council when any one of them could be looking in your direction,” Brooks previously told The Times Leader.

During court proceedings this year, Brooks’ attorney Scott Brown made a motion on Dec. 3 seeking an order to recuse counsel due to Joseph Vavra, law director for the city of St. Clairsville also serving as a Belmont County assistant prosecutor representing the state in this case.

Vavra on Friday said that Western Division Judge Eric Costine determined there was no conflict of interest.

“The court finds that Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Vavra is not disqualified due to accepting additional employment as Law Director for the City of St. Clairsville.

“The court finds that no actual prejudice to the defendant has been proven by Mr. Vavra having this additional employment,” court records state.

“The defendant in those situations has to show that he was prejudiced because of a conflict of interest and in this situation, they could show absolutely no prejudice whatsoever,” Vavra added. “They could not clear that hurdle, and the judge overruled that motion.”

After the jury found Brooks guilty, Costine sentenced him to 30 days in jail on each charge, totaling 60 days, but the sentence was suspended. Brooks was placed on probation for two years and ordered to pay a fine of $100 on each charge, totaling $200, plus court costs of $115.

Brooks also may not violate any laws of the United States, the state of Ohio or any governmental entity for two years or enter the St. Clairsville City Building while any regular city council meeting is being held.

The order could be set aside if the council ban is lifted or removed by a court or by an act of St. Clairsville City Council or its president. Brooks’ fine and court costs are to be paid by Feb. 6 or Brooks must appear in court at 11 a.m. that day to show cause.

Following the trial, Brooks said he believes Costine was a fair judge and added that he has no plans to return to city politics or have any involvement with the city of St. Clairsville other than being a resident. Brooks previously ran for a seat on city council and twice sought to be elected mayor. All those attempts were unsuccessful.

“I do not intend to ever go to a council meeting again. The city can do what it wants to do. Let someone else carry the flag for the citizens,” he said. “I’m going into the new year with the attitude of not wanting any more drama in my life.”

He added that although his lawyer suggested he sue the city of St. Clairsville, Brooks refused because he believed the burden would fall on the taxpayers of the city. He also said that he declined to go to the NAACP or Ohio Civil Rights Commission over the meeting issue.

“I could have gone to the NCCAP or Ohio Civil Rights Commission, but I did not want to fight this on the color of my skin,” said Brooks, who is Black. “I wanted to fight this on the fact that I am an American citizen and they violated my rights.

“I still feel that I was wronged,” Brooks added. “The banning of me has just set a precedent for all of the councils to ban people who stand up and speak.”

Vavra added that although Brooks is permanently banned from council meetings, Costine made it clear that Brooks could make an effort to get the ban lifted.