Kelley Williams-Bolar's Fight for Education

Williams-Bolar was caught falsifying documents so her children could attend Copley-Fairlawn schools.

Kelley Williams-Bolar is halfway through her two-year probation sentence for falsifying documents that allowed her children to attend Copley-Fairlawn schools last year. The Williams-Bolar case was presented to the Summit County Prosecutor by Copley-Fairlawn Schools after an investigator hired by the district discovered that her two daughters did not live with their grandparents, as the mother had claimed. Williams-Bolar was also sentenced to 10 days in Summit County Jail and received two years probation and community service for two counts of tampering with records. Since then, Williams-Bolar has been speaking out about her case and fighting to get her two daughters educated. Read more about Williams-Bolar's changing path on ColorLines: …

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Williams-Bolar Voices Importance of School Choice

Kelley Williams-Bolar was thrown in jail last year for falsifying residency documents so her children could attend Copley-Fairlawn schools.

Fairlawn-Bath News Digest

Police arrest man sought in Falls murder, Kelley Williams-Bolar conviction reduced, memories of 9/11 and more.

Here’s a roundup of news and features to help you start the week caught up with what's been going on in the local news. Sentence reduced -- Gov. John Kasich effectively ignored the Ohio Parole Board's recommendation and cut the sentence of an Akron Woman convicted of tampering with records to illegally enroll her kids in Copley Fairlawn Middle School. Kelley Williams-Bolar will now have misdemeanors on her record, not felonies. More blogs! -- Proud Airforce mom Jennette Cox and her daughter remember what it was like to be in the Pentagon on Sept.  11 -- ad what it was like to wait and wonder whether a loved one is safe. The women from Bitter Orange & Brown continue their love-hate relationship with the Browns and new blogger, Northeast …

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Parole Board Says No to Kelley Williams-Bolar Clemency in Copley-Fairlawn Schools Residency Case

Vote was 8-0 against asking Gov. Kasich to pardon woman convicted of tampering with records to keep her children in Copley-Fairlawn Middle School. Governor John Kasich could take recommendation or decide to pardon Williams-Bolar.

Members of the Ohio Parole Board are united in a decision not to recommend clemency for Kelley Williams-Bolar According to a report issued today by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and correction, "the Parole Board voted unanimously to submit an unfavorable recommendation regarding any form of clemency, including a pardon."  Williams-Bolar, 41, of Akron, was sentenced to 10 days in Summit County Jail and received two years probation and community service for two counts of tampering with records. She was convicted of providing false records to enroll her two children in Copley-Fairlawn Middle School. The case was presented to the Summit County Prosecutor by Copley-Fairlawn Schools after an investigator hired by the district discovered …

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Jennette Cox

8:22 pm on Saturday, September 3, 2011

Good.   more ›

Kelley Williams-Bolar Clemency Hearing is Wednesday

Hearing on sentence in Copley-Fairlawn Schools residency case is in Columbus before state parole board, then decision goes to Gov. John Kasich. Rev. Jesse Jackson will testify for defense.

The Ohio Parole Board will hear an argument for clemency in the conviction of Kelley Williams-Bolar at 9 a.m. tomorrow (July 20). The hearing will be held in Columbus at the office of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, 770 W. Broad Street. Williams-Bolar, of Akron, was sentenced to 10 days in Summit County Jail and received two years probation and community service for two counts of tampering with records. She was convicted of providing false records to enroll her two children in Copley-Fairlawn Schools. The case was presented to the Summit County Prosecutor by Copley-Fairlawn Schools after an investigator hired by the district discovered that the children did not live with their grandparents, as the mother had claimed…

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Copley Grandfather Found Guilty

Edward Williams -- who initially faced charges in the Copley-Fairlawn Schools residency case -- sentenced to one year in prison on unrelated fraud charges.

Edward Williams will spend a year in prison on charges he defrauded a state and a federal agency out of more than $100,000. The 64-year-old Copley man is the father of Kelley Williams-Bolar, who was convicted earlier this year of using Williams' Black Pond Drive address to falsify records to enroll her daughter in Copley-Fairlawn Schools. Williams' conviction today is unrelated to the school residency issue.  Specifically, Williams was found guilty of two counts of Tampering with Records, felonies of the third degree, and two counts of Grand Theft, felonies of the fourth degree. According to the Summit County Prosecutor's office: Williams stole $36,023 in benefits from the Summit County Department of Job and Family Services, and $64, 229 …

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Trial Begins for Copley Grandfather

Edward Williams, whose daughter used his address to illegally send two children to Copley-Fairlawn Schools, faces felony charges in Akron today.

A jury was chosen from over 80 people yesterday to hear the case of Edward Williams, father of Kelley Williams-Bolar. Williams is accused of defrauding the U.S. Social Security Administration and the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services of approximately $100,000. Williams case will be heard by Summit County Common Pleas Judge Patricia Cosgorove. A Beacon Journal gives details here. Kelley Williams-Bolar was sentenced 10 days in Summit County Jail and received two years probation and community service for two counts of tampering with records. Bolar was convicted of providing false records to enroll her two children in Copley-Fairlawn Schools.  She has been granted a clemency hearing on the charges July 20 before the Ohio Parole Board.

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Copley Grandfather Pleads Not Guilty to Additional Charges

Decision on change of venue will wait, Judge Cosgrove said. Trial postponed.

Edward Williams pleaded not guilty today to charges of felony grand theft and tampering with records before Judge Patricia A. Cosgrove. He has been accused of illegally receiving more than $64,000 in Social Security payments. The 64-year old Copley Township man is the father of Kelley Williams Bolar -- the Akron single mother who served nine days in jail for illegally enrolling her daughters in Copley-Fairlawn Middle School.   Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Jonathan Baumoel told Judge Patricia A. Cosgrove that Williams lied on his United States Social Security application and annual updates regarding his household income and residential status. "as a result of that he received benefits that he was not entitled to." Williams appeared …

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More Charges for Copley Grandfather Accused in School Residency Case

Edward Williams to be arraigned Wednesday.

The father of Kelley Williams Bolar -- the Akron single mother who served nine days in jail for illegally enrolling her daughters in Copley-Fairlawn Middle School -- has been accused of illegally receiving more than $64,000 in Social Security payments. Edward L. Williams, 64, of Copley Township, has been indicted by a Summit County Grand Jury on one count each of felony tampering with records and grand theft.  If convicted, the charges call for up to five years in prison.  He is set to be arraigned at 10 a.m. Wednesday before Judge Patricia A. Cosgrove. A spokesman for the Summit County Prosecutor's office did not elaborate on how authorities think Williams collected the Social Security payments in error. According to a news release from …

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Copley-Fairlawn Students Have Their Say on Race, School Safety and Kelley Williams-Bolar

Annual event gives students the chance to discuss issues of concern.

"Teen Speak Out” began on Saturday with a brief speech and an explanation of Rule No. 1: “You guys out there aren’t allowed to speak,” moderator Ned Parks told adults in the audience. Seventeen-year-old Copley High School senior Jordan Crossgrove got to the main reason students were willing to give up their Saturday for a school-related event. “This is our chance to be heard by you guys.”    Crossgrove ended with this short caveat: Some of the topics would probably make some audience members cringe. During the discussion, the panel of Copley middle and high school students shared their opinions about a wide range of topics. They spoke frankly about race relations, communication with teachers and school administrators, the importance of …

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