A new judge has been appointed in the voyeurism case of former Butler Mayor Wesley Dingus.
James Kimbler, the new appointee, was a common pleas judge for Medina County. He was appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court.
Kimbler joined the court on Jan. 1, 1997, and was the longest-serving judge in Medina County. He retired when his term expired on Dec. 31, 2014.
Attorneys from both sides filed a joint motion late last month to request a visiting judge because Mansfield Municipal Court Judge Mike Kemerer and Dingus both are Republicans.
Defense Attorney James Mayer III and Mansfield First Assistant Law Director Robert Sharp III filed the motion just before 4 p.m. July 28.
Dingus, 49, was scheduled for trial July 29 before Kemerer. He is charged with two misdemeanor counts of voyeurism, accused of smelling a girl’s underwear.
Dingus resigned as mayor of Butler on Feb. 23 after the news broke.
Two days after Kemerer granted the motion and stepped aside, the case was transferred to fellow Municipal Judge David Badnell, who disqualified himself on the same day. Badnell also is a Republican.
“Everything said about me would apply to Judge Badnell,” Kemerer said.
Kimbler was appointed Aug. 7 and listed in municipal court records on Aug. 11. A new trial date has not been set.
Former Butler mayor faces felony trial, federal lawsuit
Dingus also faces felony charges in another case.
In July 2025, video surfaced of a red car driven by Dingus striking a man twice as the man fled from Butler police. The footage showed Dingus exiting his car and fist-bumping someone on Ohio 95.
He is charged with aggravated assault, vehicular assault and misdemeanor counts of falsification and dereliction of duty. The trial is scheduled for Nov. 2 in Richland County Common Pleas Court.
Anthony Ward, the man who was run over, has named Dingus and others in a federal lawsuit. He and his grandmother, Mary Ward, are the plaintiffs in the suit, which lists the Village of Butler, Police Chief Eric Winbigler, Tiffany Dingus and other officials.
Anthony Ward alleged excessive use of force, a violation of his constitutional rights, negligence and failure to stop Dingus.
Mary Ward claims that Winbigler shoved her to the ground, causing serious and permanent physical injuries, emotional distress and other damages. She also contends that Tiffany Dingus grabbed her with both hands and violently shook her.
Reach Mark Caudill at 419-521-7219 or via X at @MarkCau32059251.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Former Butler mayor gets new judge in voyeurism case
Reporting by Mark Caudill, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
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By Mark Caudill, Mansfield News Journal | USA TODAY Network
