Two men who were wrongfully imprisoned for more than 16 years for a Portage County woman’s slaying will each receive more than $2 million.
The Ohio Court of Claims has awarded Bob Gondor and Randy Resh $1.45 million each, an amount on top of $851,000 they previously received for lost earnings.
Gondor, however, said the amount he and Resh will receive will be less than this once they pay the debts they have incurred in 11 years of litigation to clear their names and then be compensated for the years they lost in prison.
“It won’t be that much,” Gondor, 53, said in a phone interview Thursday. “We went into debt to accomplish this.”
The latest award, negotiated in a settlement between the state, Gondor and Resh, is expected to be released by the state Controlling Board next month.
Asked if the amount will be enough, Gondor answered with a definitive, “No.”
“I don’t think any wrongfully convicted individual would say they were happy they got this for spending 17 years in prison for something they never did,” he said. “We lost our lives. We went in at 26 and came home at 43.”
Gondor and Resh were convicted in the 1988 strangling death of Connie Nardi, 31, after a man who pleaded guilty in Nardi’s death implicated them. Gondor and Resh, however, maintained their innocence.
Charges were dropped against Gondor after Resh was acquitted in his retrial.
In addition to the $1.45 million the Court of Claims awarded to Gondor and Resh, the court’s settlement includes paying $1.1 million to attorneys Mark Marein and Steven Bradley for representing the two men and about $18,000 for experts involved in the litigation, according to a news release from the court.
Gondor said Bradley has been part of the legal battle for 13 years, while Marein has been on board for 10 years. He said the attorneys were among numerous lawyers, friends and family who helped the two men over the years.
Resh, 53, who now resides in Garfield Heights, couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday.
Gondor, now living in Chardon, said he and Resh have been friends since first grade, were in the same prison for 11 years, at times sharing a cell, and remain friends today.
“Randy and I shook hands to go down the road to fight this wrong,” he said. “We held fast to our agreement.”
Gondor said he isn’t sure how much money he will be left with after his litigation debts are paid. Asked what he will do with the money, he said he is living in a family member’s home and would like to make it his own. He also wouldn’t mind getting a nicer car or truck and investing some for his retirement.
In the end, Gondor said he and Resh still will need to work. He said the money isn’t cause for celebration.
“There’s no real celebration here,” Gondor said. “This was a tragedy, not only for us, but for the family of the victim.”
Gondor pointed to some of the losses he and Resh suffered. Neither has children. Gondor’s father died while he was in prison. Still, though, Gondor said, he is happy to be home.
“I’m doing OK,” he said. “I’m well. I don’t sit here and rail about the justice system.”
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @swarsmithabj and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/swarsmith.