Thursday, June 17, 1999
TRISTATE DIGEST
Stranger defends woman during rape
A stranger stopped a rape in progress in Clifton Heights early Wednesday, scaring off a suspect who was arrested 15 minutes later, police said.
In what police described as a violent sexual attack, a woman was followed into an area of Inwood Park at Hollister and Vine streets in Clifton Heights, forced to the ground and assaulted.
Someone heard the woman's screams and helped her call police as the man ran off.
Police arrested Curtis Ward, 43, of Mount Auburn, on a rape charge. He is being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center pending a court hearing.
Sentencing delayed in tax evasion case
Because of questions about James C. Morris' culpability for others' unpaid taxes, his sentencing hearing has been continued until July 16 in U.S. District Court.
Mr. Morris, a Kenwood insurance agent, failed to file his 1992 federal income tax return and tried to impede tax collections.
He was active in the Pilot Connection Society, a national group that told hundreds of Tristate residents that they could “untax” themselves. The society folded after its founders and some members were convicted of tax-related crimes.
House fire damage put at $275,000
UNION TOWNSHIP — A Tuesday evening fire did about $275,000 damage to a Butler County house in the 7100 block of Willowood Drive.
There were no injuries. Fire crews were called to the house shortly before 6:30 p.m.
“It does appear accidental in nature,” said Union Township Assistant Fire Chief Mike Mays.
The blaze remains under investigation, and a cause has not been determined, Assistant Chief Mays said. .
The garage was destroyed, and the rest of the house had severe fire, heat and smoke damage.
Teacher indicted in theft from fund
A 53-year-old elementary school teacher was indicted Wednesday on charges of stealing as much as $6,000 from the Golf Manor Recreation Commission.
Michelle C. Nazarovech, of Golf Manor, faces charges of theft by deception and theft in office. If convicted, she could be sentenced to a maximum of 61/2 years in prison.
Prosecutors say Ms. Nazarovech was a volunteer at the recreation commission who took over as treasurer in March 1997. Over 18 months, prosecutors say, she stole $5,000 to $6,000.
Prosecutor Mike Allen said Ms. Nazarovech took the money from three accounts by writing checks for cash and by shorting deposits.
Mr. Allen said Ms. Nazarovech, a substitute teacher, has paid back about $4,300.
Ex-Bengal Douthard faces drug charge
Former Cincinnati Bengal Talib “Ty” Douthard was indicted Wednesday on a charge of possession of marijuana.
Prosecutors say Mr. Douthard, 26, was arrested after police searched a Hyde Park home he shared with another man and found nearly two-and-a-half pounds of marijuana.
They say Mr. Douthard and his roommate, Martin Jones, were the subjects of an undercover investigation by the Regional Enforcement Narcotics Unit (RENU).
Prosecutors say police found $15,000 worth of powder cocaine belonging to Mr. Jones, who was charged with cocaine trafficking.
Mr. Douthard, a La Salle High School graduate, was a running back with the Bengals until he was released last season.
Council votes for Safe Pathways funds
Funding for the city's Safe Pathways program was restored by Cincinnati City Council on Wednesday.
The program is designed to prevent crimes committed against or by schoolchildren by helping them get to and from school safely.
Council voted unanimously to direct City Manager John Shirey to tell FACT management to operate and manage Safe Pathways without interruption within the existing FACT budget of $200,000.
Last week, council voted to shift public money for Safe Pathways to FACT, which stands for Fighting Against Crack Trafficking.
Man sought after break-in, assault
MOORES HILL, Ind. — Dearborn County Sheriff's deputies searched Wednesday for a man they say broke into a woman's home and sexually assaulted her.
The woman, whom police did not identify, fought off her attacker. He fled on foot.
The victim was treated at a hospital and released.
The incident occurred about 1:30 a.m., police said, when the man forcibly entered the woman's North Broadway residence armed with a handgun.
A search by a Hamilton County sheriff's helicopter, the Dearborn County sheriff department's K-9 unit and officers with Lawrenceburg, the state Department of Natural Resources, and Ripley County sheriff's departments, turned up nothing, officials said.
Moores Hill is a quiet, small community about halfway between Aurora and Milan on Indiana 350.
“At this point, all we know is that this was a very isolated incident,” said Dearborn County Sheriff's spokesman Cpl. Bill Ullrich.
Cp
The suspect is described as 5-9 to 5-10, 140 to 150 pounds, possibly wearing glasses, with shoulder length light-colored hair. He wore a dark jogging suit.
Anyone with information can call the Dearborn County Sheriff's Department at (812) 537-8730.
1,000 inmates crowd Montgomery Co. jail
DAYTON, Ohio — A record number of prisoners is overwhelming the Montgomery County Jail, and action must be taken to reduce the length of time inmates spend there, a sheriff said Wednesday.
“For the first time in our history, we exceeded 1,000,” Montgomery County Sheriff Gary Haines said. Last week, the inmate population would have hit 1,008 if about 250 prisoners had not been transferred to a city jail. But that still left the county jail with 86 more inmates than its rated capacity.
Many of those prisoners spent the night in plastic portable beds in the jail gymnasium, said Maj. Donald Sprude, the warden.
Golf cart driver faces DUI charge
SANDUSKY, Ohio — A golfer whose cart rammed into a sign at the Mills Creek Golf Course assumed he'd get billed for the damage, but instead he was charged with driving under the influence.
Paul Herriott, 41, acknowledged that he was drinking. He said he bought the beer and paid for the cart at the public course and still has the receipt.
Hotel tax hike to aid Sabin
Grade 4 reading scores improve
4th-graders test better overall
Students tested in March
City, schools agree to $100 million plan
Democrats ask Mallory to go against Rep. Chabot
Parking hits $10 at some downtown garages
Pregnant teens have loving home
Sending warmth to Kosovo
Drive-in heading to court
Love expresses surprise at notoriety
Lucas backs delay on car emissions test
Mass-transit agencies join forces to get ready for light rail
Picketing Teamster faces assault charge
With canes, he's able
Erich Kunzel pops with enthusiasm
Local girls take message about diabetes to Washington
Raising big bucks is as easy as HUC
GET TO IT
Older, wiser Deters back in politics
13 want chance to run schools in Lebanon
4 police officers honored
Bus route to mall will be discussed
City in no rush to hire administrator
Elder-Beerman reopening delayed
Florence has new police team
Florence says farewell to truck stop
Lakota Online looks at selling ads
Lincoln Court plan is object of suit
Man dies in fiery crash
New building brings life to sciences
Ohio studies ways to spend budget surplus
Owners, developers sue in zoning denial
Panel to support hillside rules
Parish Kitchen marks 25 years of dishing out respect
Top road improvements identified for Boone Co.
Toyota donates $20,500 to Blue Ash tornado relief
TRISTATE DIGEST
Western land-use plan proving hard sell
