News

A former Ohio House page faces felony charges related to a letter prosecutors say he forged in last year’s primary.

The Northeast Ohio Media Group reports that a one-time aide to state Rep. Jim Butler has been charged with forgery and attempted identity theft, both fifth-degree felonies. Carlos Arrigo is to be arraigned April 1 in a Franklin County court.

County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien tells the news organization the charges stem from a note Arrigo wrote on Butler’s letterhead purporting to offer the Dayton Republican’s support to Barb Cole of Hillsboro, who ran unsuccessfully against House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger in the 2014 primary.

Arrigo resigned this fall. O’Brien says he wrote the false letter because of an “internal squabble” with other House staffers, not to influence the election.