BY ADAM WEINTRAUB
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The family of Steven Von Bargen broke their silence Tuesday to plead for the 17-year-old's future.

The youth is charged as a juvenile with three aggravated vehicular homicide counts in a Jan. 14 crash that killed his younger brother and two other fellow Roger Bacon High School students. Prosecutors asked Tuesday that he be tried as an adult.

''Steve has suffered enough now as it is,'' Ed Von Bargen, Steven's father, said in a hallway at the Hamilton County Juvenile Court building, with his arm around his wife and supporters gathered around. ''Please don't take him from us.''

''Putting Steve in prison will not help him or the families who are suffering from this tragic accident,'' Ed Von Bargen said, reading from a written statement. ''We beg the prosecutors to allow us to rebuild our shattered family.''

Police have said Steven was driving at more than 70 mph on Este Avenue in Winton Hills, in a 35-mph zone, when he swerved and spun into oncoming traffic.

The collision 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 Union Township, Clermont County, was injured and has sued; Steven Von Bargen is charged with aggravated vehicular assault in Mr. Robinson's injuries.

Steven Von Bargen, of Springfield Township, has no prior criminal record but was convicted of speeding less than three months before the fatal wreck for driving 89 mph in a 65-mph zone in Clinton County.

Hamilton County Juvenile Judge David Grossmann will hold a hearing Feb. 13 to consider transferring the case to Common Pleas Court. If convicted there, Steven Von Bargen could face up to five years in prison on each aggravated vehicular homicide count and 18 months on the assault charge.

Previous stories

DRIVER FACES CRIMINAL CHARGES Jan. 31, 1997
'OTHER' DRIVER FILES LAWSUIT Jan. 22, 1997
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