1484: Joseph Burkhart

Joseph Burkhart was a Republican at-large city council member in Bellevue, Ohio, when he was arrested in September, 2025. At the time, he was indicted on seven charges. In October, a grand jury indicted him on twenty-two charges, eighteen of which are felonies. At the time of his indictment, he was the Chair of the public safety committee. He remained on the November general election ballot in Sandusky County. Bellevue lies at the intersection of Erie, Huron, Seneca, and Sandusky counties. That is why he was arrested by Huron County deputies and is on the Sandusky County general election ballot. He got 11% of the vote.

Police were called out to a domestic incident where Burkhart is said to have broken in to a home. They called in the Huron County Sheriff’s Office as Burkhart was on the City Council and this created a conflict of interest, or at least the appearance. The original charges included strangulation, burglary, and drug possession. (He ran from police who saw him tossing drugs as he ran.) The current charges are:

• Three counts of menacing by stalking, a 4^th-degree felony;
• Three counts of drug possession, a 1^st-degree misdemeanor;
• Two counts of tampering with evidence, a 3^rd-degree felony;
• Two counts of aggravated drug possession, a 5^th-degree felony;
• Two counts of telecommunications harassment, a 1^st-degree misdemeanor;
• One count of aggravated burglary, a 1^st-degree felony;
• One count of strangulation, a 2^nd-degree felony;
• One count of grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, a 3^rd-degree felony;
• One count of strangulation, a 3^rd-degree felony;
• Strangulation, a 4^th -degree felony, for one count;
• Theft of Drugs, a 4^th-degree felony, for one count;
• One count of obstructing official business, a 5^th-degree felony;
• One count of theft, a 5^th-degree felony;
• One count of drug trafficking, a 5^th-degree felony; and
• One count of assault, a 1^st-degree misdemeanor.

The charge for strangulation notes that the person was either a family member or a romantic connection. The menacing by stalking charged noted he has a history of violence.

• Huron County Clerk of Courts: Case Number CRI20250707
• Fremont News Messenger: Bellevue councilman runs for re-election and from police, indicted on 22 charges
• 13 Action News: Bellevue councilman indicted on 22 charges, including assault and stalking