Thursday, February 25, 1999
Man who allegedly corrupted girl, 16, in jail
Smith deemed likely to flee
BY MIRIAM SMITH
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — A Butler County judge Wednesday ordered James H. “Jay” Smith held in lieu of $130,000 bond for allegedly hiding from authorities in Texas with his 16-year-old girlfriend.
Common Pleas Judge Mi chael J. Sage said he set the high bond because the 35-year-old Trenton man is considered to be a flight risk.
Mr. Smith, who did not address the judge during his arraignment, is accused of fleeing the area with Bessie Lou McCoy of Millville in September. The two had been living in a Texas trailer before authorities caught up with them last month.
Mr. Smith's attorney, Lyn Cunningham of Hamilton, en tered not-guilty pleas to one charge of felony corruption of a minor and six misdemeanor charges of contributing to the unruliness of a minor.
Not-guilty pleas also were entered on two charges of failure to make child-support payments.
A pretrial conference was set for Wednesday before Judge Sage. Mr. Smith is being held in the Butler County Jail.
Assistant county prosecu tor Dennis Adams requested a “fairly high” bond because Mr. Smith is accused of taking Bessie out of state.
Mr. Cunningham said Mr. Smith has lived in the county all his life, his family is still here and “we don't believe he'd be a flight risk at all.”
Judge Sage ordered $100,000 bond on charges of corruption and contributing to a minor, and $30,000 bond on the charges of failure to pay support. Mr. Smith allegedly owes about $30,000 in child support, officials said.
Mr. Smith also “essentially persisted in a pattern of trying to hide from authorities,” Judge Sage said after the arraignment.
Mr. Smith's mother, Jenny Smith of Trenton, watched the arraignment and said outside the courtroom the charges brought against her son are “hard to deal with. He's just never really been in any real trouble.”
Mr. Cunningham said he will be exploring as part of his case “the amount of knowledge” Bessie Lou's parents had about the relationship between their daughter and Mr. Smith.
Bessie, who is back with her parents and faces an unruliness charge, has said she is engaged to Mr. Smith and that the two plan to marry when she turns 18.
Rename Sabin? His wife hopes no
Dr. Sabin gave his name; he did not sell it
Indiana man arrested in church fires
Fire door saved church, marked suspect
School board vows to fight for Ten Commandments
Youngsters a tad fuzzy on their thou-shalts
Riverfront should be fun, people tell planning group
HAVE AN IDEA?
Convention center expansion has critic
Minister's spouse accuses ex-wife of pushing allegations
Passerby saves sinking motorist
State probe of gas explosion says CG&E violated regulations
Strong-mayor plan still one vote shy of making ballot
Bride, er, moose is wearing white
Bus drivers to return today
Crazy to be Cowboys
Hill gets record haul of Grammys
Grammy winners
Pilarczyk: Faith needs practice to stay vital
Convention center's unsung hero
Abandoned baby's mom faces more mental tests
Berry wrote he found peace
Biblical group shares its plans
Business aims to help schools as area grows
DNA clears dead man in killing
Fire at Scout camp considered suspect
Florence says 'no' to new hotel
Group adopts ship named for MU grad
Husband remains jailed in attack on wife
Lower profile pleases Boehner
Man found with teen faces court
Man who allegedly corrupted girl, 16, in jail
Parents, students back charter school
Portman's red-tape-cutting act OK'd
80-plus railroad track crossers cited
Senator joins push for safety wall
'Thunder' to hit Broadway
TRISTATE DIGEST
Warren reduces welfare cost 87%
West Chester concept OK'd
