After missing two court dates, Hiram Council Member Chris Perme pleaded not guilty July 29 to two misdemeanor charges of assault.
Portage County Municipal Court Judge MaryBeth Kiah also issued temporary protection orders for the two alleged victims and a personal recognizance bond for Perme.
According to a June 2 court filing with Portage County Municipal Court in Ravenna, Perme stands accused of using his index finger to shove one victim, "pushing him off balance and leaving a red mark on his chest.” He allegedly grabbed a second victim “by his shirt and shoulder and pulled him,” then "repeatedly shoved his index finger into [name redacted], pushing him off balance,” the complaint reads.
The Portage County Sheriff’s Office, which responded to the incident, lists Mason Joseph Mayoros and Adam Michael Wracher, then employed as Hiram firefighters, as “subjects” on its criminal case report. Hiram Mayor Anne Haynam is also listed.
Hiram Fire Chief Anthony Marotta did not immediately respond to The Portager’s inquiry as to whether Mayoros or Wracher remain associated with the HFD.
According to court records, the alleged incident occurred “on or about the 14th day of May” at or outside Hiram Village hall. The PCSO case report states that the incident occurred May 15. Perme was not charged at the scene, but the PCSO on June 2 filed assault charges against him.
Perme was set to be arraigned in Portage County Municipal Court in Ravenna on June 24, but on June 22, his attorney, Robert Leach, advised the municipal court clerk via a fax that, in lieu of a court appearance, his client was entering a plea of not guilty “to any and all charges currently pending against him.”
Leach requested that a pretrial date be scheduled, but on June 24 visiting municipal court Judge Mark Frost ruled that Perme must appear in person for his arraignment. Frost set the arraignment date for June 30, but, citing a June 27 “serious medical event” that resulted in Perme’s hospitalization, Leach requested a continuance, aka postponement, until July 2 “at the earliest.”
The court granted “plus or minus 10 days,” then set the July 29 arraignment date. Future court proceedings will be handled by Portage County Municipal Court Judge Melissa Roubic.
Neither Perme nor Haynam responded directly to The Portager’s request for comment.
In a written statement to The Portager, Leach characterized his client as a respected and committed public servant who looks forward to continuing his role as a village council member.
Referencing the assault charges, Leach wrote that Perme “suffered a series of medical and personal setbacks several months ago, which unfortunately contributed to his current legal situation.”
Without referencing Mayoros or Wracher by name, Leach stated that they “were not harmed or injured in any way, nor did Mr. Perme exhibit any signs of anger, malice or ill intent toward either one of them before or during the unfortunate incident.”
He wrote that Perme’s health “has improved significantly" and that his personal issues have been largely resolved.
No court date has been set.
Wendy DiAlesandro
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.