Wednesday, August 12, 1998
Cincinnati police have arrested three people on rape charges: Robert Cameron, 29, of Westwood is charged with one count of rape against a former girlfriend. He also allegedly threatened to kill the woman. He is being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center.
Two boys -- ages 16 and 17 -- also face rape charges in the sexual assault Sunday of an 18-year-old East Price Hill woman. The teens will face charges in juvenile court, where a judge will decide whether they will be bound over to adult court.
Rape is a first-degree felony, punishable in adult court by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
Magazine rates MU as Ohio's best buy
OXFORD -- Miami University has again been ranked a best buy among state universities.
This week, Miami announced that it ranks highest in Ohio and No. 30 in the nation on Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine's 1998 list of the top 100 values in state universities.
Kiplinger's features "schools where students can graduate with a high-caliber education but without a mortgage-size debt." Miami is no stranger to national magazine endorsements. For four years the university has been on U.S. News and World Report's list of most efficient national universities. For five years, Miami has been rated a best buy in The Fiske Guide to Colleges.
"We are proud to be consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the country for the wise use of families' and taxpayers' money," said James C. Garland, Miami president.
In judging universities, Kiplinger's considered a number of things, including graduation rates, percentage of first-year students returning for a second year, Scholastic Aptitude Test scores and admission rates, total costs and other financial measures.
UC dean will lead education foundation
Joseph P. Tomain, dean of the University of Cincinnati College of Law, has been named board chairman of a national education foundation. The Thomas L. Conlan Education Foundation was established in 1981 as the Student Loan Funding Corp. It is named after the late Thomas L. Conlan Sr., a Cincinnati lawyer who co-founded the Student Loan Funding Corp.
Mr. Tomain has been on the foundation's board since 1993.
Young man robs bank in Morrow
MORROW -- Warren County sheriff's deputies are searching for a bank robber who stole an undetermined amount of money from the First National Bank in Morrow on Tuesday.
The robber was described as a male in his 20s who wore a bandana over his face and brandished an unknown caliber handgun, officials said. The robbery occurred shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday inside the bank at 541 W. Pike St.
No injuries were reported.
2 arrested on burglary and break-in charges
Two more "Tristate's Most Wanted" suspects have been arrested, bringing the total to 511 arrests out of the 855 suspects featured in The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Marquis Gray, 24, of Westwood was arrested Monday on a burglary charge.
Jason St. John, 21, of College Hill was arrested Saturday on a charge of breaking and entering.
The Enquirer publishes "Tristate's Most Wanted" each Monday. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Callers to 352-3040 can remain anonymous.
Teacher-coach accused of injecting religion
LONDON, Ohio -- The Ohio Department of Education wants an investigation of whether a football coach encouraged religious activities in school.
The department's request last week was in response to a letter from parent Charles Bluestone, who said London High School coach David Daubenmire has been "blending religion and teaching" during school hours.
Mr. Daubenmire defends his approaches. "In this day and age, when kids are taking guns to school and getting pregnant and using drugs, I find it ironic that people find my faith in God to be a greater threat," he said.
This spring, the school board renewed Mr. Daubenmire's contract, despite a recommendation from the superintendent and high school principal against doing so. They said he invoked religion to teach classes and train football players, and used school district time to preach a sermon on a religious radio station.
The board said there was not enough proof that he violated the Constitution.
Councilman indicted on bribery charges
AKRON, Ohio -- A city councilman indicted on two counts of bribery charges said Tuesday he is innocent.
Ernest J. Tarle said he is innocent of the first charge because the money he allegedly gave to fellow Councilman Mike Parsons was a campaign contribution, not a bribe.
Mr. Tarle allegedly handed an envelope of money to Mr. Parsons in a restroom before council was supposed to vote on a matter relating to an oil and gas well March 23. Mr. Parsons returned the money and reported the incident to police.
"I didn't bribe anybody," Mr. Tarle said Tuesday. The two counts "are both silly. I passed an envelope. I didn't know what was in the envelope, and I didn't have anything to gain."
Michael Lampers Sr. and Michael Lampers Jr. were each indicted on one count of bribery, for allegedly giving Mr. Tarle the money. Attorney Don Varian, who represents both men, said his clients are disappointed in the charges because they also thought the money was a campaign contribution, not a bribe. The money allegedly came from a man working for the company that was drilling the well.
Mr. Tarle was also indicted for allegedly offering David Reymann, his opponent in the 1997 election, half his salary if he would drop out of the race. Mr. Tarle said he suggested that he and Mr. Reymann combine forces to beat an incumbent.
The winner would take office, and the runner-up would act as an aide and receive half the councilman's salary.
"It was a hypothetical compromise situation," Mr. Tarle said.
