Wednesday, September 15, 1999
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Hit-skip suspect admits guilt on lesser charges
Prosecutors dropped an aggravated vehicular homicide charge against a 20-year-old Madisonville man Tuesday when he agreed to plead guilty to other charges in the hit-and-run accident that killed an elderly man last month.
Ricardo Meadows pleaded guilty Tuesday before Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Mark Schweikert to charges of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of aggravated vehicular assault and one count of not stopping after an accident.
Mr. Meadows faces up to nine years in prison. He is being held in jail pending sentencing Oct. 7.
He was the driver of a Chevrolet Celebrity that struck four people Aug. 10 as it sped out of the College Street alley at Sixth Street between Race and Vine streets.
Nicholas Barbas, an elderly transient, suffered head injuries and died a day later. Three teen-agers also were injured.
Prosecutor Mike Allen said Mr. Meadows drove away while a passenger, 20-year-old Orlando Sattiewhite, removed a temporary license tag from the rear window.
Mr. Sattiewhite was indicted on a charge of obstructing justice. He faces up to a year in jail if convicted.
East-side accident kills 85-year-old man
COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP — An 85-year-old Norwood man died Tuesday from injuries suffered in a single-car crash on Highland Avenue.
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said Mr. Burns, of the 2000 block of Maple Avenue, was driving in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart about 11:54 a.m. when he drove down an embankment and struck a culvert.
Mr. Burns was taken to University Hospital, where he died about 5:30 p.m., a nursing supervisor said.
Acquaintance of dead woman sought
BATAVIA — The Clermont County Sheriff's Office is looking for a man thought to have talked with Lena Baynum before her dis appearance and the discovery of her decomposed body in a creek.
Ms. Baynum's remains were found Sept. 1 along Ulrey Creek in Tate Township, Clermont County. The 27-year-old woman was last seen Aug. 27 in Northern Kentucky.
The man is not a suspect, according to Chief Deputy Rick Combs, but may have spent time with Ms. Baynum at the Yucatan Liquor Stand in Covington on Aug. 20 or early Aug. 21. The man is described as white and in his mid-20s, with “a bright smile.” He stands 5-foot-10 to 6 feet tall, with brown hair with blond highlights combed straight back and moussed down, according to sheriff's deputies.
Anyone with information should call investigators at (513) 732-7545.
Traffic engineer admits check-kiting
A businessman agreed Monday to plead guilty to one count of bank fraud in what the Justice Department said was a check-kiting scheme to steal more than $1 million early this year.
The government said Ali A. Saleh — who did business as TEC Engineering and is Springdale traffic engineer — moved checks among his business and personal bank accounts without funds to cover them.
Then he withdrew the money before the financial institutions caught on, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ralph Kohnen said.
Star Bank lost $1,323,091, Mr. Kohnen added. Court documents did not say where the money went.
In the next few weeks, Mr. Saleh is to make his guilty plea formal and U.S. District Judge Sandra S. Beckwith will set a sentencing date.
Mr. Saleh could not be reached Tuesday.
Killing escaped lioness justified, sheriff says
XENIA, Ohio — A sheriff on Tuesday defended shooting and killing an African lioness that escaped from an exotic-animal farm. The animal was out of control and dangerous, he said.
“It's not the kind of animal that you can say it will be fine and walk off and leave,” said Greene County Sheriff Jerry Erwin.
Deputies shot and killed the 400-pound lion Saturday night after it escaped from a barn.
Owner Frank Newsome is reportedly threatening to sue authorities.
Toledo again delays action on handgun ban
TOLEDO — Four years of debate over a proposed handgun ban apparently isn't enough.
The City Council decided Tuesday to postpone a vote on outlawing the sale and possession of so-called Saturday night specials, saying it needed more time to consider changes to the legislation.
“We owe it to ourselves and to this community to take an additional two weeks,” said Council President Peter Ujvagi.
The proposal has been one of the most contentious issues in recent years in the city, generating hundreds of letters and phone calls, council members said.
Police looking for man accused of killing wife
MARIETTA — A West Virginia man, who was ordered by a court not to contact his wife in Ohio, called and threatened her two days before he shot and killed her, police said.
Police in several neighboring states were searching Tuesday for John Finley Nameth, 64, of Switzer, W.Va., on an aggravated murder charge. Police say he shot Shirley Nameth, 60, of Marietta several times at close range Monday night.
Mr. Nameth had forced her car off the road and then shot her three times through her car window, Marietta police said.
Ohio seeks new school-funding plan
Colleges battling binge drinking
Dropout rates on the rise
Hillcrest offers one last chance
Council pay hasn't changed since 1928
Police issue abduction warning
Death may change Air Force training
Industrial park to be home of Kenton jail
Mason annexes all of Kings Island
Merit contenders are named
Sickle cell testing stirs ethical debate
Neighborhood health fairs free
Program shares wheelchairs worldwide
Artist of the 'Black Lagoon'
GET TO IT
Pax will strengthen local UPN
'Side Man' puts playwright up front
Athletic group could solve facilities problem
Butler wreck 3rd double fatality in under four weeks
Citizens to get say on center
Clock moved to park setting
Congregation reflects on its 150-year history
Fiscal court approves sewer study
Officials tap leader for Warren drug unit
Ohio honors 8 local education programs
Police studying infant's death
Religious leaders to give peace chance
Separate schools for Monroe closer
Triathlete races for girl with cancer
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