BY KRISTEN DELGUZZI
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Thomas Creasman

In 33 days, Thomas B. Creasman will learn what the future holds.

The options are worlds apart for the former supervisor of the Cincinnati golf division, who was convicted Friday of five felony charges, including theft in office, related to the job he was fired from in April. He was acquitted of the most serious charge of bribery.

When he returns for sentencing Aug. 20, the 51-year-old Anderson Township man could get up to 7 1/2 years in prison. But he also could be handed a heavy fine and probation by Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Steven Martin.

Prosecutors would not speculate on what sentence they would seek, but their reaction immediately after Mr. Creasman was found guilty may provide a clue.

As soon as the verdicts were read, assistant prosecutor Jerome Kunkel asked that Mr. Creasman - who has been free on bond since he was indicted in February - be taken into custody pending sentencing. He said he made the request because Mr. Creasman had tried to intimidate a witness during his two-week trial.

Judge Martin did not oblige, and Mr. Creasman walked out of the courthouse without comment.

His only reaction came when an acquaintance shook his hand and offered condolences. Mr. Creasman shrugged and shook his head. Defense attorneys said Mr. Creasman was stunned and disappointed, as they were.

"There was no justice here," attorney Richard Goldberg said. "We thought he didn't do anything wrong. We didn't think he'd get convicted of anything."

But prosecutors said that attitude may have cost them the case, noting that it likely was a damaging approach to blame others - including two golf pros who forged documents at Mr. Creasman's direction, and Ron Chase, the head of recreation - for all the problems in the golf division.

"Their client was on trial, and I think that's what they should have concentrated on," Mr. Kunkel said. "It was their client's trial. I think they completely misread this case."