Deedrick named acting prosecutor in Tuscarawas County

Scott Deedrick has been named acting prosecutor to serve until the Tuscarawas County Republican Party Central Committee names a replacement for Prosecutor Ryan Styer, who has been appointed a Common Pleas judge.

Deedrick, a 1984 graduate of New Philadelphia High School, has been associated with the prosecutor’s office for 29 years as an assistant prosecutor.

Deedrick was appointed by commissioners Feb. 25 by a 2-1 vote, with Commissioner Greg Ress voting no. The appointment is effective March 2.

March 2 is also when Styer takes over his duties as judge. He was appointed to the bench by Gov. Mike DeWine Feb. 4 to replace Judge Elizabeth Thomakos, who retired Feb. 1 after 29 years as a judge.

Because Styer is a Republican, the local GOP has the job of naming his replacement, who will serve until the end of the year. If the replacement wants to continue to serve as prosecutor, he will have to run in November.

All three commissioners stressed that Deedrick’s appointment is not an endorsement of his candidacy to get the job permanently.

Deedrick is one of two people vying for the Republican Central Committee appointment. The other is former state Rep. Brett Hillyer of Uhrichsville, who is currently a candidate for county auditor in the May 5 primary. The central committee is expected to make the appointment sometime in March.

“We are taking this action out of operational necessity,” Commissioner Kristin Zemis said. “Over the last several weeks, Mr. Styer, after being appointed our new Common Pleas judge, has been stepping away from duties at the office. While making that transition. Mr. Deedrick, as the senior-most assistant prosecuting attorney, has taken over the majority of the cases and the leadership in that office.”

She added, “This should not be seen by any person as an endorsement of any potential candidate for the upcoming vacancy for whomever the central committee will be naming as the new prosecuting attorney.”

Deedrick said he has been running the prosecutor’s office for several weeks as Styer makes the transition to judge. “Also, it doesn’t make sense to create conflicts by having him involved in criminal cases, so for the last two to three weeks I’ve been running the office.”

Deedrick said the office will lose assistant prosecutors who will go with Styer and that duties have been reassigned. He said the office is accepting applications for new hires.

“It’s been a hectic time, but we’re optimistic that we can continue to provide the level of service that the county expects,” Deedrick said. “I’ve been fortunate to have the support of law enforcement and county officials and elected officials in this endeavor.”

Deedrick attended Ohio Northern University, graduating in 1988. He then went to law school at The Ohio State University. He was admitted to the bar in 1992.

He joined the prosecutor’s office in 1997, working part time until becoming a full-time prosecutor in 1999. His primary role has been as a felony prosecutor.