Ohio Gov. Taft charged with four misdemeanors today

Gov. Taft charged with four misdemeanors
By Jon Craig, Cincinnati Enquirer Columbus Bureau

COLUMBUS – Gov. Bob Taft, under investigation for not reporting as many as 60 golf outings as required by state law, was charged Wednesday with four criminal misdemeanors, a city prosecutor said.

Stephen McIntosh, chief prosecutor in Columbus, said he hopes to have the case against Taft finalized this week. That would mean Taft or his attorney, William Meeks, will appear in Franklin County Municipal Court on the charges Thursday or Friday.

Taft is the first Ohio governor ever charged with a crime. Each charge carries a maximum fine of $1,000 or six months in jail. Prosecutors said it is unlikely Taft would go to jail.

Taft, 63, a Cincinnati Republican, is a descendant of President William Howard Taft and two U.S. senators....