"We are innocent," Lorain County Prosecutor says following arraignment (VIDEO)

ELYRIA – Lorain County Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson and his Chief of Staff Jim Burge appeared in Elyria Municipal Court on Thursday to be arraigned on felony charges. Speaking from the courthouse steps, Tomlinson proclaimed the pair's innocence, saying that when the truth came out, they would be exonerated. "We just want to say that we're very comfortable with the evidence that we have and we look forward to our day in court," Tomlinson said. "We are innocent." Tomlinson and Burge are each charged with intimidation and tampering with evidence, and Tomlinson is also charged with attempted bribery, all felonies. The charges were filed by the Lorain County Sheriff's Office, which alleges that Tomlinson and Burge tampered with evidence and a witness in an ongoing joint investigation between the Sheriff's Office, the state Auditor's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On Thursday, Tomlinson and Burge appeared before visiting Judge Patrick Carroll, who informed them of the charges against them and ordered both men to be fingerprinted at the Lorain County Jail and then released on a personal recognizance bond. Tomlinson and Burge, both attorneys, said they were pursuing counsel to represent them, but neither had chosen one yet. Tomlinson asked Carroll for two weeks to select an attorney, a request which Carroll granted. The rest of the arraignment was then continued until Burge and Tomlinson obtain representation, and they will appear before Carroll again on Oct. 16. Carroll found probable cause to file the charges against Tomlinson and Burge on Tuesday after he was presented with evidence by Lorain County Sheriff's Capt. Robert Vansant. "(Carroll) just hasn't seen all the evidence yet," Tomlinson said Thursday. "But he will." This is a developing story. Check back for updates.