BY ADAM WEINTRAUB
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A 17-year-old boy who was speeding on the way to class is facing criminal charges in a Jan. 14 crash that killed his younger brother and two other Roger Bacon High School classmates.

Steven Von Bargen, of Springfield Township, will appear in Hamilton County Juvenile Court Feb. 4 on three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and one count of aggravated vehicular assault. Prosecutors will seek to have Mr. Von Bargen tried as an adult.

''This is something he's going to have to live with for the rest of his life, but it's critical that this office be seen as consistent in these kind of cases,'' Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters said Thursday. Vehicular homicide cases ''are always difficult, especially when family members are involved ... but the law is the law.''

Investigators say Mr. Von Bargen was driving at close to 75 mph in the 5300 block of Este Avenue, Winton Hills, a 35 mph zone. He apparently lost control of the car when he swerved to miss a parked van and spun into oncoming traffic.

The impact killed his brother, 16-year-old Greg Von Bargen, and 17-year-old Sarah Garibay and 15-year-old Kyle Yearion, all sophomores at the school in St. Bernard. The driver of the other car, Donald Robinson, 37, of Clermont County, was seriously injured.

If convicted as an adult, Mr. Von Bargen could face up to five years in prison on each count of aggravated vehicular homicide and 18 months on the assault count. He has no prior criminal record, but pleaded guilty less than three months before the fatal wreck to speeding - driving 89 mph in a 65 mph zone in Clinton County.

Mr. Deters said that speeding conviction was the most important factor in his decision to seek adult charges.

Mr. Von Bargen told the juvenile court magistrate in that case that he was ''daydreaming and not paying attention to his speed,'' Mr. Deters said.

''The magistrate told him at that time that she was worried about him flying around on the highway,'' he said. ''We have a magistrate saying 'You're going to hurt innocent people,' and we have innocent people hurt.''

''If children knew ... what their behavior could lead to, they would never drive that way.''

Previous stories

SCHOOL HOLDS FUNERAL FOR THREE Jan. 19, 1997
THOUSANDS BID TEENS GOODBYE Jan. 18, 1997
POLICE TRY TO RECONSTRUCT CRASH Jan. 17, 1997
PALL CAST OVER ROGER BACON Jan. 16, 1997
3 DEATHS SHATTER SCHOOL Jan. 15, 1997