State lawmaker's trial set for November

An indicted state representative has a pre-trial hearing scheduled this week before Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge John Andrew West.

State Rep. Peter Beck, a Mason Republican, has been indicted on 53 charges and could face up to 102 years in prison for securities-related fraud that cost investors around $200,000, according to a Columbus Dispatch report last year.

Beck represents the 54th House District, serving parts of Butler and Warren counties. He lost his chance for re-election after being defeated in the 2014 Republican primary.

Beck's trial is scheduled for November.

“These charges against Rep. Beck do more than taint just him, they harm the public’s trust in all of state government,” said Ohio Democratic Chairman and State Representative Chris Redfern.

According to his House of Representatives website at http://www.ohiohouse.gov/peter-beck/biography, Beck is a former chief operating officer with Home Building & Loan Company in Greenfield.

Prior to his current position, he was a partner for more than 20 years with two accounting firms, the most recent being a firm located in Milford. He is also a certified internal auditor, certified bank auditor, certified financial services auditor, certified risk management accountant and an anti-money laundering professional.

Beck served as a member of Mason City Council from 1997 to 2005. From 2003-05, he was Mason’s mayor. Beck again served on Mason City Council as the vice mayor from 2007 until his appointment to the Ohio House in September 2009.

In February of this year, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph T. Deters announced that additional indictments had been issued against Beck and several co-conspirators in connection with their activities involving Ohio software company Christopher Technologies, LLC, or CTech.