COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — A former Hocking County prosecutor who faced sexual harassment and hostile workplace allegations will face the Ohio Supreme Court after a disciplinary board recommended he be disbarred for two years.
The Board of Professional Conduct of the Ohio Supreme Court voted in favor of suspending Ryan Black from practicing law after determining he behaved unprofessionally in his former role as county prosecutor. Originally facing three alleged violations of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, a Supreme Court panel decided to dismiss two counts but continue investigating allegations he had inappropriate sexual conduct with two employees.
The allegations began in February, when two former employees filed a sexual discrimination lawsuit against Black, asserting he created a hostile work environment, coerced one woman into sexual relations and acted inappropriately in his role. In March, Black resigned from his position , but he denied all allegations in a filing with the Supreme Court board in April.