TRUMBULL COUNTY, OH - A Trumbull County Commissioner facing a misdemeanor charge of "disturbing a lawful meeting" was in court Thursday.

Niki Frenchko was arrested during a July 7th commissioners meeting, after she made comments following a clerk reading aloud a letter that was submitted into the official record. Frenchko was led out of the board room, placed in handcuffs, and charged with the Fourth-Degree misdemeanor. She later plead not guilty to that charge.

Her attorney, Dave Betras, is asking the court to secure evidence for his case. That includes all emails and other correspondences from county commissioners where "Frenchko" is mentioned.

"We do not in America arrest our political opponents. That's what Sheriff Paul Monroe did," said Betras. "That's what Mauro Cantalamessa did. That's what Frank Fuda did. That motion I made will show they had a pattern and it was set up to do it this way."

Betras is also asking for a change of venue, as he says Frenchko cannot get a fair trial in Trumbull County. The judge must receive that request by September 2nd.

Frenchko's next hearing is set for September 13th.