MAHONING COUNTY, Ohio - After five years and more than half a million dollars, former Mahoning County Assistant Prosecutor Marty Desmond's case against Chief Prosecutor Paul Gains has finally been closed.

 

The litigation began when Desmond was fired in 2017 for insubordination. Desmond says the firing was really about several cases he felt were being handled inappropriately and that he was let go in retaliation. 

 

Desmond's suit made a series of allegations, including intimidating a witness which he says occurred during a murder case where Kalilo Robinson, was supposed to testify as a witness.

 

When Robinson decided not to testify, Desmond said former Mahoning County Prosecutor Dawn Cantalamessa obtained an indictment against the defendent that was later dismissed.

 

Cantalamessa then told the court Robinson was overheard saying he'd be flying out to Tennessee and not testifying in that case. Robinson was then detained and held without bond. 

 

Similarly, Desmond also says there was another case where a murder witness decided to invoke his 5th amendment right and remain silent and Cantalamessa charged him with murder instead.

 

After that indictment, the witness relented and testified and Desmond calls that, "prosecutorial vindictiveness." 

 

Now that the case has been settled, Desmond tells 21 News he's satisified with the outcome and has no intention of working at the courthouse again. 

 

"I wanted the public to know what really goes on down there and i think they're aware of that," said Desmond. "We've exposed quite a bit of corruption if you will, misconduct, and so we really wanted to bring that to light," he said.