Salem funeral director sentenced to jail for OVI conviction

Robert Greenisen

 A Salem funeral director, already accused of trying to bribe a judge, has been sentenced to begin serving 23 days in jail after being convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence and driving with a suspended license.

Robert Greenisen, 56, was found guilty in the case after pleading no contest to the charges in Columbiana County Municipal Court.

A judge sentenced Greenisen to 360 days in jail but suspended 337 of those days.

Greenisen is listed as a director and embalmer on the website of the Arbaugh-Pearce-Greenisen Funeral Home.

A special prosecutor has been appointed to handle a bribery charge that a grand jury is considering against Greenisen.

According to an affidavit filed by a Columbiana County Sheriff’s Detective, on April 14 someone deposited an envelope containing a letter and $500 in the Municipal Court night dropbox.

The letter written in the third person was addressed to “Your Honor” and was accompanied by twenty-five, $20 bills.

Security camera video recorded only one non-law enforcement vehicle outside the court that night.

It was a Dodge pickup truck that investigators say is similar to one found at Arbaugh-Pearce-Greenise Funeral Home on East State Street.

After searching the funeral home, detectives say Robert Greenisen confessed to typing the letter and delivering to Judge Timothy McNichol’s office.  Detectives say a copy of the letter was found on Greenisen’s computer.

On the same day the envelope full of money was delivered, Judge McNichol stepped down from hearing the OVI case pending against Greenisen at the time.

In addition to the jail sentence and a $2,000 fine, Greenisen’s driver’s license was suspended for seven years. However, he can apply for reinstatement 90 days after completing a court-prescribed treatment program.