YOUNGSTOWN - A three-judge appeals court has upheld a lower court order protecting Struthers Mayor Cat Cercone Miller against alleged threats made by former Struthers Municipal Judge Dominic Leone III.

An opinion published earlier this week by the Seventh District Court of Appeals affirmed a protection order issued last May by a visiting judge sitting in Struthers Municipal Court.

In rejecting Leone’s claim that he was protected under his right to free speech, the appeals court’s opinion stated the record “shows there was a long pattern of conduct extending over more than a year involving dozens of people and many locations.”

The judges also cited evidence that showed an “escalating series of extreme and outrageous outbursts” by Leone towards Miller at her workplace, at her home, and in public places.

An emergency protection order, filed after theMay 2, 2023, primary election, accused Leone of being "mentally unstable" and "erratic".

Miller described an incident at a polling location on Election Day where she says Leone yelled at and harassed her and others.

Leone III was accused in the complaint of calling Miller a "fat b****" and threatening to "get rowdy" with her.

Leone lost the race for Struthers Municipal Court Judge to Democratic opponent James Melone.