The October hearing was held before visiting judge Patrick Carroll.

“I realize this case has taken on a bit of a life of its own by being politically charged,” Carroll said.

Tomlinson is accused of tampering with evidence, intimidation and attempted bribery.

Burge is charged with tampering with evidence and intimidation.

Former Franklin County District Attorney Ronald O’Brien was appointed special prosecutor for the case.

According to a twenty-two page report from the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, the charges stem from allegations made by former employee Jennifer Battistelli.

According to the report, Battistelli began working at the prosecutor’s office in January 2021 and later that spring began dating Tomlinson.

Battistelli claimed that Tomlinson became obsessed with her and would call her a hundred times a day.

In the summer of 2023, Battistelli filed a formal complaint against Tomlinson and resigned.

She said Tomlinson and Burge tried to make false statements in an effort to get her to drop the complaints.

During the hearing, Battistelli’s attorney requested a no-contact order for him and his client.

“The defendants have made numerous statements about me that are false. In fact, defamatory,” Lowder said.

Neither Tomlinson nor Barge entered a plea.

19 News reached out to both Tomlinson and Burge for comment, but did not hear back.

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