Wednesday, October 27, 1999
Suspect in crash can play football
BY JANE PRENDERGAST
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — A Beechwood High School sophomore accused in a wreck that severely disabled his friend can return to the football field just in time for the last regular season game.
A judge decided Tuesday, over prosecutors' objections, that the 15-year-old could go back to the football powerhouse while he waits for a December hearing. At that time, the same judge could decide he should stand trial as an adult.
County Attorney Garry Edmondson sought the teen-ager's banishment from the team, saying he needed to understand the severity of his actions. The victim, Covington Catholic football player Brad Fritz, 15, remains in a rehabilitation unit at Children's Hospital Medical Center. He is largely unresponsive, lying in a special bed designed for patients who do not move.
“There are substantial charges pending,” Mr. Edmondson said. “He ought to be in detention, we think. But if not that, he should not be playing football.”
Judge Frank Trusty disagreed after an opinion from the teen's psychologist, who said it would be good for him emotionally to return to the team.
The accused driver remains unidentified publicly because he is a juvenile. He is not a starter on the team but did play in several games this year before the Sept. 18 accident. That night — the night after Beechwood and Covington Catholic High School played each other — the teen-ager allegedly took the car from his sister's boyfriend, drank beer and drove the car into a tree in Highland Cemetery in Fort Mitchell.
He faces charges of assault and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Prosecutors added drunken driving to the list Tuesday. A third teen-ager also was in the car. He ran from the scene, Mr. Edmondson said, but won't be charged.
The alleged driver returns to the Tigers just before their last game of the regular season Friday night against Newport Central Catholic. Ranked No.2 in Kentucky in Class A football, the Tigers already have clinched a postseason berth. Playoffs begin next week.
Mr. Edmondson wants him tried as an adult so he'll be able to be sentenced to some kind of long-term probation supervision. In the juvenile system, few meaningful sanctions are available, he said. He said he won't push for jail time.
“He's not going to prison,” Mr. Edmondson said. “But the court would have control over some kind of probated sentence so he has some conditions hanging over him.”
Judge Trusty will make that decision in December.
If the case is sent to a grand jury for possible indictment in adult court, Boone County Commonwealth Attorney Willie Mathis will prosecute. Don Buring, the commonwealth attorney in Kenton County, stepped out of the case because he knows some of the families involved.
Legislator seeks to end '2 Percent Club'
Teens will live every musician's dream
Obesity epidemic is killing thousands
Tip for trimming down
Just how much are you eating?
Health info on the Web needs examination
Some recommended health-related Web sites
Avondale wants law to keep out undesirables
Miss America visiting Over-the-Rhine
Police targeting Fort Washington Way
Reading schools try to dispel furor
Routine traffic stop results in stolen patrol car, chase
School levy backers target undecided voters
Children Services asks for support
Levy assists 10,000 disabled
Opponents take shots at Patton
Taft stumps for local school levies
Getting the right sound
Famous engraving of city in new printing
GET TO IT
Starting the millennium with a wedding? Tell us about it
Workshops spell out Social Security issues
14-year-old faces adult murder charge
Boone sophomores get to test knowledge
Card-game slaying goes to grand jury
Decision on uniforms given to schools, parents
Ex-Boone official gets year in jail, lecture on theft
Lakota freshmen schools up to voters
Liberty asks for post office
Ludlow official in court over back taxes
Miami breaks ground on memorial to activists
Neighbors, city may have cleared hurdle for housing complex
Ohio low on school breakfasts
Relative keeps fight alive for renamed bridge
School kids operate bank branch
Sheriffs irate over drug allegation
Study: Payroll tax cut may help Covington
Suspect in crash can play football
TRISTATE DIGEST
Union Twp. residents asking for new name
Warren-Cincinnati vans to stop
Wyoming seeks funds money for fields
Yucky water gives insight
