The Recorder, the Charge, and the Pattern Nobody Wants to Talk About
Inside Lorain County’s Long History of Selective Scandal and Shielded Power
By Aaron Knapp | Lorain City Politics Unplugged
When the Lorain County Recorder — the elected official who stamps your deeds and titles — shows up in a criminal docket for Sexual Imposition, you don’t ignore it.
You look it up. You read every line. You ask: Is this real accountability — or just the same old Lorain County playbook?
Michael D. Doran, our Recorder since 2020, has been accused by local Democrats of hiding an old criminal record — past convictions for violent assault and theft from years before he took office. There’s no evidence he ever disclosed it fully to voters. And then, in July 2025, talk spread fast about a new Sexual Imposition charge. The rumor mill said it was filed on July 8. But when you pull the docket? There’s no record of any fresh indictment. Just the old baggage. Which means the question isn’t just “Did he do it?” It’s “Who wants this out now — and what’s the whole story they’re not telling?”
If you know Lorain County, you know half-truths can ruin you faster than a real conviction.
What We Actually Know
No probable cause affidavit has been released. No victim statement. No clear record of when, where, or how the alleged new incident happened — if it did at all.
So we’re left with a giant rumor and a public record of older convictions that Doran did have: assault, theft, and unpaid fines that led to warrants at the time. That’s real. But the new talk? It’s shadowy.
When that happens around here, you need to ask: who benefits?
Some Scandals Stick Because They’re True
Judge James Burge was convicted in 2015 for conflicts of interest and tampering with records. He failed to disclose that he was profiting from attorneys practicing right in his own courtroom. He resigned under pressure, tried to make a comeback, and voters shut the door.
Lt. Tabitha Angello? She made history as Lorain PD’s first female detective, sergeant, and lieutenant — then threw it away. In 2022, she got caught having sex on duty with a subordinate and a known drug trafficker. She tried to wipe her phone while investigators waited. She got indicted, pled out, and served time for tampering.
When the evidence is undeniable, it sticks. That’s not what you watch for. It’s the convenient ones you should fear.
When It’s a Weapon
Ask former Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson. He didn’t just get “framed” — he helped write his own scandal. He started an inappropriate relationship with a former client, then gave her a job in his own Prosecutor’s Office. He lied about it when asked. And when she had enough? She recorded him — on her phone, thanks to Jennifer Battistelli. That clip showed him verbally abusive to her inside a county building. Witnesses said it wasn’t the first time. It was the worst-kept secret in that hallway.
She quit and filed an EEOC complaint for harassment. Tomlinson didn’t handle it straight. He tried to manage it behind closed doors to protect his reelection. But dirt in Lorain County never stays buried when it’s politically useful.
Weeks before the election, he got indicted for witness intimidation and bribery — and the Sheriff’s Office investigator assigned to the case was busted sending flirty messages to the same witness. She didn’t show for court. The charges fell apart on paper. But the damage was done. Tomlinson lost. And sitting next to him the whole time? James Burge, the same judge once convicted for corruption, now pulling the strings as his chief of staff.
That’s how real bad choices get turned into dynamite here. You mess up, they save the ammo for when it matters most.
Who They Pick to Burn — and Who They Protect
Look at Michelle Hung and Harry Williamson. Hung was a commissioner. Williamson was the county’s 911 Director. They had an affair — not rumor, but caught on security video and admitted under oath. Instead of transparency, the Board fired Williamson, made him the scapegoat, and dumped over $100,000 in legal bills on taxpayers. Hung’s reputation never recovered. Williamson lost his career. When the public wanted the whole record, insiders stalled, redacted, and spun it. Hung lost reelection and sued Dave Moore for defamation. Here, rumor is a weapon, a shield, or hush money — all at once.
Denis Flores, longtime 2nd Ward Councilman, gave Lorain 20+ years. But when he got inconvenient, they kicked him out for not living in his ward — while plenty of others did the same for decades with no penalty. Neighbors leaked just enough dirt, Council voted him out, and the rumor did the rest. No charges, no real finding — but his career ended.
Angel Arroyo Jr.? Arrested for domestic violence against his wife. He quit Council in shame — and then? He’s back at events like nothing happened. When you’re useful, they forgive you.
And the rumor mill? Always humming.
Tom Williams, former commissioner — persistent rumors of sleeping with staff. Never proven, but the talk follows him.
Rich Resendez, candidate for Sheriff — gossip about drinks with subordinates and backdoor deals. Zero formal charges, but the whispers swirl.
Commissioner Jeff Riddell? Stories that he’s shown up to meetings buzzed. No record, no discipline.
Dave Moore, the big dog. A federal RICO lawsuit in 2002 alleged his mortgage company ran like a loan shark operation. Elderly and minority borrowers said they were trapped in bogus refinancing. The judge let it proceed under RICO. It mostly disappeared, settled out of court — but that stain is real. Then decades later, same name on shady backroom deals, always skating past consequences.
When you’re useful in Lorain County, your rumor never becomes an indictment. When you’re not, they make sure it does.
And I’ve Seen It Firsthand
I’m not telling this story from a safe distance. I’ve lived it. Seven times my name’s been dragged through the Chronicle and other papers. Fights, courthouse scuffles, the MAHD House bar brawl — turned into a podcast joke. Tia Hilton’s protection order? She filed it, got her headline, then dropped it when it wouldn’t hold up. Her lawyer? Gerald Phillips — same insiders, same games.
When you dig for the real records — the videos, the emails they claim don’t exist — they make you the story so you shut up. I’ve seen it done to me, to Williamson, to Flores, to anyone who tries to open the blinds.
So What About Doran?
Is Doran guilty? Maybe. Maybe not. We know he has old misdemeanor convictions . That’s real. But the new charge? Where’s the affidavit? The statement? The date and time? If there’s a victim, let them speak in full. If there’s a setup, let’s see who gets what when Doran falls.
This place loves to bury truth and half-bury rumors. We deserve better than rumors. We deserve every receipt.
Final Thought: We Don’t Do Blind Headlines Here
If they’ll do it to a Recorder, they’ll do it to you. They’ll do it to your family. The only thing that stops them is sunlight — every record, every sworn statement, every video, every receipt. No more “trust us.” No more leaks at election time.
If it’s real, prove it in court. If it’s fake, hold the ones who built it accountable.
Never forget the pattern.
I’m not done shining that light yet.
Aaron Knapp | Lorain City Politics Unplugged
Editorial Clarification
Correction about Dennis Flores:
In my recent piece “The Recorder, the Charge, and the Pattern Nobody Wants to Talk About,” I stated that Dennis Flores was removed from Lorain City Council for not living in his ward. That’s not accurate. Dennis Flores (with two “n”s) was not formally removed by Council for residency. Instead, he faced public backlash for a Facebook post mocking shooting victims in South Lorain. He apologized publicly but lost re-election in the next primary, effectively ending his council career.
I appreciate the community feedback that caught this. As always, my goal is to get the facts right — especially when the pattern shows how rumor and real consequences collide in Lorain politics.
Aaron Knapp | Lorain City Politics Unplugged
Legal Disclaimer
This article is published for informational and commentary purposes only. All statements regarding public figures and officials are based on credible public records, sworn testimony, court filings, reputable news coverage, or clearly identified community allegations. Where allegations are unproven, they are labeled as such. Nothing in this piece should be construed as a final legal finding or a substitute for independent verification. Readers are encouraged to review court documents and public records for themselves. The author accepts no liability for any actions taken or not taken based on the information provided here.