Arraignment set for mayor of East Cleveland for multiple charges including theft

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - The mayor of East Cleveland is expected to be arraigned in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas on Friday morning.

Mayor Brandon L. King was set to be arraigned Nov. 1, but it was continued to a week later.

King was indicted on several charges on Oct. 10.

King faces charges including:

Two counts of theft in office

Four counts of having unlawful interest in a public contract

Four counts of representation by public official or employee

Filing a false disclosure statement

Soliciting improper compensation

"Mayor Brandon King demonstrated a complete disregard and disdain for the rule of law," said Prosecutor Michael C. O'Malley. "The citizens of East Cleveland deserve better. The investigation continues."

According to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office, Mayor King authorized a public contract and payments through the City of East Cleveland to his own businesses and businesses owned by his family members.

Mayor King also authorized leasing office space in a building on Euclid Avenue owned by King Management Group Limited to East Cleveland's Domestic Violence Department, according to the prosecutor's office.

The lease was for $14,184.21 annually.

From March 16, 2019 through February 22, 2022, East Cleveland also purchased $5,803.17 worth of cleaning supplies from American Merchandising Services.

King Management Group and American Merchandising Services are both owned by Mayor King and his family members, according to the prosecutor's office.

Also, from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2022, Mayor King "improperly provided a City of East Cleveland vehicle to East Cleveland City Councilman Ernest Smith. King also provided Smith with City of East Cleveland gas cards to purchase vehicle fuel."

According to the prosecutor's office, while Councilman Smith had the vehicle, he used gas cards to purchase $6,791 worth of gas at East Cleveland's expense.

The Ohio Auditor of State and the Ohio Ethics Commission are investigating.

According to the prosecutor's office:

Councilman Ernest Smith was also indicted on the following charges:

Theft in office

Two counts of theft

Soliciting improper compensation

Misuse of credit cards