Avon woman who got protection order against bailiff has legal and financial troubles
Brad Dicken | The Chronicle-Telegram
ELYRIA — An Avon woman who obtained a civil stalking protection order against an Avon Lake Municipal Court bailiff has had a string of legal and financial problems over the past few years.
Cynthia Mingus, 28, was charged with passing bad checks for allegedly trying to purchase a 2004 Dodge Durango from Jack Matia Chevrolet in September with a personal check made out to the dealership for $17,228. The check bounced, according to Lorain County Common Pleas Court documents.
Her attorney, Anthony Rich, said he didn’t know about the protection order, but the bad check case is still working through the system.
“The issue is whether there was an intent to defraud,” he said.
Mingus, who, according to her attorney, is in the third trimester of a pregnancy, obtained a temporary civil stalking protection order Tuesday against Mark Hagedorn, a bailiff at Avon Lake Municipal Court who worked to evict her from her Avon apartment because of nonpayment of back rent.
The protection order remains in place, but a full hearing is set for Wednesday, when Hagedorn will be able to give his side of the story.
When she requested the order, Mingus accused Hagedorn of harassing and threatening her, but she allegedly didn’t tell county Magistrate Michelle Pena that the bailiff was the one making sure she complied with the eviction notice.
Avon Lake Municipal Court Judge Darrel Bilancini said Wednesday that he had issued the eviction order and may have to hold Mingus in contempt of court. Hagedorn said Mingus is abusing a system designed to protect women from stalkers.
The September incident in Elyria isn’t the only bad-check charge Mingus faces.
Earlier this month, she was ordered to undergo psychological evaluation in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, where she is charged with passing bad checks and theft of a motor vehicle.
She also pleaded guilty earlier this year to a theft charge in Cuyahoga County and was placed on probation for one year.
Mingus and her husband, Chris, lost their North Ridgeville home to foreclosure last year, according to court records. The home was sold at a sheriff’s sale for $60,000 in March 2007.
Mingus has also filed for bankruptcy twice since 2007 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of Northern Ohio. Both of those cases were dismissed because Mingus never followed through, according to court records, and a judge barred her from seeking bankruptcy protection again until at least September.
Mingus was also ordered to pay Jim’s Lawn Care $268.63 for an overdue bill after the company sued her in Elyria Municipal Court last year.
Another case filed against Mingus by another creditor was dismissed this year when neither side showed up for a hearing.
Contact Brad Dicken at 329-7147 or bdicken@chroniclet.com.
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Filed by Brad Dicken | The Chronicle-Telegram July 11th, 2008 in Local and State. Popularity: 7% |
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Comments
Comment from
johnbear
July 11, 2008, 8:36 am
Living is section 8 housing and writing $17,000 checks? I’m sure the folks in Avon are proud to have this apartment development in their city setting. 90% of Avon Police reports involve this area.
Her attorney is not sure whether there was an intent to defraud??? This is why some attorneys are ridiculed, making such idiotic statements.
Comment from
artechref
July 11, 2008, 12:33 pm
Don’t just assume that because she is writing bad checks she lives in Section 8 housing. There are other apartment complexes in Avon.
Comment from
allmoney1996
July 11, 2008, 3:27 pm
“The issue is whether there was an intent to defraud,” he said.
Really? Who writes a $17,000 check after they just lost their home to foreclosure and thinks it isn’t going to bounce? If they had the $17,000 in their checking account, maybe they’d have been able to keep up with their mortgage payments. Unbelievable.
Comment from
carrie
July 12, 2008, 9:15 am
I made comments regarding her financial and legal problems on the story from earlier in the week. The story disappeared from the comments section and now this story shows up. I agree with all of you. This family can’t keep their affairs in order and then think they can do whatever they want and be excused. More people who can’t take responsibility for themselves. NOW she’s pregnant and my tax dollars can pay for that. Another drain on society.
Comment from
allmoney1996
July 14, 2008, 12:22 pm
carrie, just click on your name, you can pull up your comments…
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