AUSTINTOWN - Austintown Township trustee candidate Emily Ciccone pleaded not guilty to a domestic violence charge during her arraignment Monday afternoon in Mahoning County Court #4 in Austintown.

Ciccone, 29, also filed notice to claim self-defense and demanded a jury trial.

“There are two sides to every story," her attorney, Frank Cassese, said after the hearing, "So we look forward to Emily’s day in court."

Police arrested Ciccone last week after a 911 call reported an altercation at her South Edgehill Avenue home.

According to the police report, officers found her husband, Mahoning County Clerk of Courts Michael Ciccone, bleeding from a leg wound that required stitches.

The report alleges she threw items, including a coffee mug, during an argument.

The case has raised questions about possible conflicts of interest, since the alleged victim oversees the Clerk of Courts office.

Ethics attorney David “Chip” Comstock said the clerk’s office primarily handles filing and paperwork and does not create a direct conflict since the work is non-discretionary. However, he said a judge could face potential conflict because the clerk’s duties fall under the direction of the court.

“It could be perceived that the presiding judge has a conflict of interest. That’ll be up for the judge to decide,” Comstock said, “Judges always try to avoid the appearance of impropriety, meaning they want to appear fair, impartial, and neutral.”

Ciccone is one of six candidates running for Austintown trustee seats in the November election.

The Mahoning County Board of Elections office said under Ohio law, candidates aren't disqualified from running under these circumstances and can hold office unless they are convicted of a felony. 

If convicted, the domestic violence charge she faces would be a misdemeanor.

Board of Elections chairman and attorney Dave Betras said he is contacting the Ohio Ethics Commission to determine if he must abstain from any potential decisions related to Ciccone’s candidacy, since his colleague Cassese is representing her.

RELATED COVERAGE: