Politics & Government

Council Decides Not to Pay Bettio for Moral Claim in Dismissed Case

All but one council member voted down a motion to pay William Bettio for costs incurred in a disorderly conduct trial that was dismissed recently in Stow Municipal Court.

Stow City Council voted 6-1 Oct. 11 against paying William Bettio fees incurred during a trial at the Stow Municipal Court that was dismissed by Judge Kim Hoover recently.

In May, the Stow Police Department charged Bettio with disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. a man was blocking buses from leaving the high school by standing in front of them.

Bettio said the charge was based and hearsay. 

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"[The officer] never got any side of my story or any of my witnesses to what was going on that day," Bettio said at the Oct. 8 meeting. "He only took the statement from the transportation supervisor and never went to any of mine."

Bettio also told council that he, his family and daughter "have suffered continuous embarrassment after the incident at her school."

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According to Law Director Brian Reali, a legal finding on whether the actions constituted a definition of "unreasonable" and "unlawful" was the reason the case was dismissed.  

Reali previously said, "My file does have a statement from a witness supporting Bettio. It also has statements from a student and two bus drivers about his conduct that day."

Before council voted no on the moral claim, Bettio said, "I broke no law and the case was dismissed. I never would have fought this if I was guilty. I'm a policeman’s son and I was raised to be responsible for my actions. Every citizen has a right for fair trial."

. Councilman Brian Lowdermilk was the only "yes" vote. 

Before council turned it down, Lowdermilk amended the request to pay Bettio $1,500 — which was the cost of strictly the legal fees, according to Reali. The law director said the remaining $300 was for "an inconvenience fee."


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