Saturday, March 20, 1999
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Bigg's offers refunds on some frozen foods
HARRISON — The Bigg's grocery store here is offering refunds to customers who purchased frozen food products on Thursday between midnight and 5 p.m.
The Hamilton County General Health District said a consumer complaint about a thawed frozen food product prompted it to ask for a recall of all frozen food products from the store. The food can be returned for a refund.
Frozen food that is not kept at the correct temperature has the potential for bacterial growth “that can cause disease,” said Amy Gass, a health district spokeswoman.
Tim Ingram, Hamilton County health commissioner, said the frozen food items purchased during those hours Thursday should be returned.
“It's better to be safe than sorry,” he said.
Monica Schierbaum, communications director for Bigg's, said a soft frozen food product was purchased from one of the food cases at Bigg's and that the store destroyed all products in the case, worth about $10,000.
Man pleads guilty to five child-porn counts
Mount Lookout child pornographer William John Garvey pleaded guilty Friday to five counts of interstate transportation of kiddie porn pictures taken in his home.
An additional 59 related charges were dismissed.
U.S. District Judge S. Arthur Spiegel ordered him held for sentencing, saying Mr. Garvey violated bond conditions by contacting one of the seven girls he photographed.
U.S. Attorney Sharon J. Zealey said Mr. Garvey photographed females under age 18 during sex acts and carried the color Polaroids to his second home in Louisville, where his wife lives.
“We are glad we were able to obtain a conviction without the victims having to testify,” Ms. Zealey said.
She said the photos were taken between March 18, 1997, and June 10, 1998.
As part of the plea agreement, Mr. Garvey forfeited his Harvey Avenue home, his 1991 GMC van and a 1994 Acura sedan.
He faces fines up to $250,000 on each of the five counts and is likely to spend three or four years in prison, according to federal sentencing guidelines.
Prosecutors did not say how young the girls were.
The investigation began last year after one of the girls told Cincinnati police about the photo sessions. Pictures included young women engaged in sex acts with each other. Mr. Garvey also paid some of the girls to perform oral sex on him.
Police say father endangered children
A Northside man faces criminal charges after police say he passed out on his couch, leaving his two small children in danger of smoke from a stove fire Thursday night.
The fire was not serious, but police say there was a large amount of smoke in the apartment.
Paul McMillan, 40, of the 4300 block of Hamilton Avenue, is charged with two misdemeanor counts of child endangering. He pleaded not guilty at arraignment Friday in Hamilton County Municipal Court. His bond was set at $3,000. The children are not in his custody while the case is pending.
Ex-golf supervisor's conviction upheld
Former Cincinnati golf supervisor Thomas Creasman's conviction on charges of theft in office and other crimes was upheld Friday by an appeals court.
Mr. Creasman, 52, has remained free on bond for more than a year while awaiting a decision by the Ohio 1st District Court of Appeals.
On Friday, a three-judge panel ruled that his conviction was “no miscarriage of justice.”
Mr. Creasman may return to Hamilton County Common Pleas Court as early as next week so a judge can impose his two-year prison sentence.
Judge Steven Martin, who presided over Mr. Creasman's trial, has set a tentative hearing date of March 25.
The Anderson Township man was convicted in July 1997 of theft in office, having an unlawful interest in a public contract and three counts of tampering with records.
Mr. Creasman forged payment vouchers and illegally paid his wife's company to buy equipment for one of Cincinnati's seven municipal golf courses.
Policewoman gets probation for assault
A Cincinnati police officer was sentenced to four years' probation Friday for assaulting her supervisor.
Deborah Gragston, 39, was convicted last month in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. Prosecutors say she was off-duty when a police officer stopped her in November for failing to control her vehicle.
When she was taken to the North College Hill police station, prosecutors say police there called Ms. Gragston's supervisor.
After he arrived, she grabbed him, struck him in the neck, kicked him in the leg and cursed him.
Judge David Davis sentenced her to four years' probation, 200 hours community service and a counseling program.
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