Former North Ridgeville Councilman Eric Shaffer pays back improper veterans benefits, gets probation

ELYRIA — Having paid $8,326 in restitution for veterans benefits he improperly received from the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission and resigned his seat on North Ridgeville City Council, Eric Shaffer was sentenced Friday by Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Donna Freeman to one year of probation. Shaffer, 63, of Avon Belden Road, apologized but said little else before Freeman handed down the sentence. "I'm sorry. That's the only thing I can think of to say. I may or may not be having some memory issues and I'll certainly look into that," Shaffer told Freeman. Facing felony charges including grand theft and tampering with records, Shaffer pleaded guilty in November to lesser misdemeanor versions of those same charges. The plea agreement was dependent on him paying full restitution and to resign his elected Council seat. Defense attorney William Willis and Assistant Lorain County Prosecutor Thomas Gentiluomo said Shaffer did both those things. "He fulfilled his end" of the plea agreement, Gentiluomo told Freeman. Freeman told Shaffer not to get charged with any other crimes for a year. She waived all fines but ordered him to pay court costs. "Just don't pick up any new charges, pay off the court costs and there should be no further issues," Freeman told Shaffer. Prosecutors charged Shaffer in March after an investigation revealed the U.S. Army veteran improperly took veterans benefits to pay his bills. The money available from the county Veterans Service Commission, or VSC, is dependent on income eligibility. The Prosecutor's Office said Shaffer applied for financial assistance in December 2023 to pay his mortgage, utilities and car insurance. Shaffer was required to inform the VSC of any income he received, including from serving on North Ridgeville City Council and unemployment benefits he received. Prosecutors said Shaffer provided some financial documents but didn't tell the Veterans Service Commission about all his income. Investigators were able to prove Shaffer got paid by Council without declaring it to the veterans agency, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Chris Pierre said previously. A Republican and licensed attorney with several graduate degrees, Shaffer resigned as Ward 2 councilman on Dec. 15. Had he not done so, he faced six months in jail. Shaffer has no disciplinary history with the Ohio Supreme Court, according to a state database of attorneys. North Ridgeville City Council on Monday appointed Bob Holub to fill Shaffer's unexpired council term expiring at the end of 2027. Holub is a Democrat who lost the Ward 2 election to Shaffer by 23 votes in 2023. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com