One of the most highly publicized cases in Findlay over the last few months has been the fight between Terry Freed and the Roger Tanner. In February of 1998, Terry Freed filed a civil action in Hancock County against Roger Tanners and Tab Tanner, doing business as Arcadia Porsche.

The case alleged that the Roger and Tab Tanner agreed to recondition a Herb Adams GTP vintage race car which Freed alleged he bought in 1995. According to Freed, Roger and Tab Tanner failed to finish the car and refused to return it.

Judge Joseph Niemeyer ordered Roger Tanner to post a $54,000 bond or the property would be seized.

On March 13, 1998 the Courier reported the twist of events in this dispute. After a hearing in Niemeyer's court, Niemeyer ruled that the car be returned to Freed. When the sheriff's deputy arrived, the car was found piled in Roger Tanner yard. The car had been cut into pieces and the motor was in parts.

Roger Tanner claimed that he did not violate the court order. He had returned the car. Roger Tanner also claimed that he was part owner of the car.

On March 19th, the Courier again reported that Freed had filed a petition with Niemeyer's court. Freed wanted Roger Tanner to be found in contempt.

June 5th's Courier reported that visiting Judge Muehlfeld found both Roger and Tab Tanner in contempt. Muehlfeld had taken over after Niemeyer had excused himself due to conflict.

On August 13, 1998, a Courier report stated that Roger Tanner had been sentenced to a $250 fine and 30 days in jail. Tab Tanner was sentenced to a $100 fine and 15 days in jail (which was suspended). In the same article, the village of Arcadia blocked Roger and Tab Tanner from conducting any business on the property where Arcadia Porsche was located.

As of October 9th, the Courier reported that Roger Tanner could not be located to serve his 30 day sentence.

The Black Swamp Chronicles will now report the real story.

Terry Freed and Roger Tanner entered into an agreement for the purchase and repair of a 1994 BMW. The provisions of that agreement stated that Freed would purchase the wrecked car and Roger Tanner would repair it. Once the repair was completed, the car would be sold and the profits would be split.

However, Freed drove the car for over six months following its completion. Finally the car was sold. Roger Tanner was never paid. In addition, Freed failed to pay the loan on the car to Genoa Savings and Loan.

On August 18, 1998, Terry Freed appeared in court to answer charges in Judge Reginold Routson's court. Freed was charged with jumping title and failing to pay the taxes for the BMW. During the court hearing, Prosecutor Beutler agreed to a plea. Terry Freed would plead guilty to failure to pay taxes and the charge of jumping title would be dismissed. Terry Freed would pay of fine of $250 and serve 30 days in jail (which was suspended).

Freed had escaped criminal punishment even though he was still on probation for an earlier hunting violation that resulted in a criminal sentence. He instead received a slap on the hand. In addition, Freed had admitted in open court during the GTP court battle that he had forged the signature of the original owner for the BMW in order to transfer the title. That criminal act was never address by Judge Routson or the Prosecutor.

Additionally, the purchaser of the BMW, a Mr. Humphrey, was charge with a higher offense than Terry Freed for his involvement. With the agreement to keep his mouth shut, he was offered a plea bargain. Justice at work?!

Freed and Roger Tanner also entered into an agreement concerning the GTP race car. Freed paid $13,500 for the car. Tanner paid $15,200. The agreement was again for the restoration of the vehicle with the profits to be split following the sale.

However, after Freed sold the BMW he filed suit to gain control of the GTP race car. Roger Tanner refused to surrender the car due to the fact that he possessed a receipt for the car. In addition, Roger Tanner argued that Freed still owed him his portion of the proceeds from the BMW sale.

In open court Freed admitted he owed Roger Tanner money for the BMW, but that he had no intentions of paying. Freed fully intended on defrauding Roger Tanner again

When the sheriff's deputy Charles Insley arrived to be present during the surrender of the GTP, the car was dismantled. Roger Tanner had legal ownership of the car. In addition, the court order stated nothing about the cars condition during the surrender to Freed. Roger Tanner in fact returned the car to Freed.

In the contempt court hearing, Sheriff's Deputy Insley agreed that Roger Tanner had complied with the court order in technical terms. He stated that he saw no action from Roger Tanner which constituted a contempt of court.

Ignoring the testimony of the deputy, Judge Muehlfeld found Roger and Tab Tanner in contempt. Both Tab and Roger were sentenced. Strangely, Muehlfeld found Tab in contempt even though Roger admitted that he was the only one involved in the dismantling of the GTP race car. Tab Tanner, according to Roger, was not even present during the torching. Roger took complete responsibility for the pieces and parts.

Additionally, Terry Freed and Roger Tanner both admitted that Tab Tanner was not involved in the agreement. Freed claimed, however, that Tab and Roger were partners in Arcadia Porsche. Therefore, Tab was named in the suit.

Judge Muehlfeld failed to recognize that Arcadia Porsche had been established nearly two years after the agreement between Freed and Roger Tanner. Therefore, Roger and Tab were not working together at the time of the agreement. In fact, they did not form Arcadia Porsche for some time after the agreement between Freed and Roger Tanner.

Why did Judge Niemeyer not dismiss Tab Tanner from the lawsuit after Tab produced proof that he was not party to the agreement involving the GTP? Are children responsible for their parents business dealings?

Why turn over possession of a car to Freed when Tanner owned more than 50% of the GTP?

As stated before, Niemeyer had excused himself during this lawsuit. Why? During the duration of the legal maneuvering, Roger Tanner produced proof of mail fraud committed by Judge Niemeyer to Sheriff Mike Heldman. This proof was forwarded to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Niemeyer decided to excuse himself after he order possession of the car to be turned over to Terry Freed.

Did he ensure that revenge would be delivered? Was Niemeyer's decision a last ditch effort to gain retribution on Roger Tanner?

According to reliable witnesses, the last week has been tragic for Tab Tanner. The attorney for Terry Freed, William Clark, has levied the building in which the Tanners conducted business prior to being shut down by the Village of Arcadia. All of the personal belonging within the structure, as well as any items on the property have been seized. Regardless of the owner of the items, nothing is to be removed.

Then on February 12, 1999, Tab Tanner returned home from a family funeral to find his possessions being taken by the Sheriff's Department. According to reliable informants, Tab Tanner was told not to come to the property during the removal of his belongings?

Who was there to represent the interests of Roger and Tab Tanner? Local Arcadia residents state that the value of the property they witnessed being removed was worth much more than the $27,000 judgment? Why was so much being taken? Was an inventory being done? By whom?

Interestingly, court records show that the property located in Arcadia is owned by the Diogenes Trust. The property is not owned by Roger or Tab Tanner. In addition, court records also show that the Diogenes Trust owns all of the tools and contents of the said property.

An interview with Roger Tanner via the internet, reveals that the Diogenes Trust was created in January 1998 in order to protect him and his family. Tanner states "I had the trust created to stop these crooks from stealing anymore from me". The agent of the trust could not be located at the time of this publication.

Again, we ask you the people of Hancock County - are Roger and Tab Tanner being protected by the justice system? Is Tab Tanner responsible for his father's business dealings? Can we allow the judicial system to deliver verdicts to the highest bidder? How is Freed connected to Niemeyer and the judicial system?

Tab Tanner is now being robbed of his life's work. He has been left penniless. His father has left the area to avoid being unjustly detained and can not return to assist his son. Where is the justice for this family?