A Salem funeral director has signed documents saying he intends to plead guilty to trying to bribe a local judge.

Papers filed in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court state that 56-year-old Robert Greenisen has told a special prosecutor that he is willing to forgo the traditional grand jury process and plead guilty to one count of bribery.

The documents say Greenisen signed a waiver without the hope of leniency when Judge Megan Bickerton passes the sentence.

Greenisen l listed as a director and embalmer on the website of the Arbaugh-Pearce-Greenisen Funeral Home is accused of depositing an envelope containing a letter and $500 in the Municipal Court night drop box on April 14.

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

Investigators say security video recorded that night showed a Dodge pickup truck similar to one found at the funeral home on East State Street.

Detectives say 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 an OVI case that was pending against Greenisen.

Greenisen was convicted of OVI and driving under suspension. In July he was given a 23-day jail sentence.

Earlier this week, after serving 12 days of that sentence, Greenisen’s attorney filed a motion for early release from the county jail calling incarceration a “hardship”, claiming he is the only person running the funeral home.