Sunday, November 21, 1999
Warrant Amnesty Day draws 15 people
BY JANE PRENDERGAST
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — Fifteen people took Kenton County's offer of amnesty Saturday — out of nearly 8,000 scofflaws. But the turnout was enough to prompt officials to plan another Amnesty Day.
In three hours, sheriff's deputies cleared up 23 warrants on 15 people. Five other people came to see if they were wanted: they weren't.
One woman came to handle her own case of driving on a suspended license, then returned later with a friend who was wanted on a charge of contempt of court. Another had four warrants for allegedly writing bad checks.
One man came in to give officials an elaborate explanation about how he'd been laid off and couldn't pay his fine while he waits to get into drug treatment.
Judge Douglas Grothaus gave most of them new dates to show up in court. None of the offenses was serious enough for anyone to be arrested.
One of Sheriff Chuck Korzenborn's deputies suggested the amnesty offer to help clear up the backlog of warrants. Unserved warrants became a controversial issue 31/2 years ago after a man who had been wanted for a year remained free and killed his wife. Authorities had difficulty explain ing how they could not find the man because he was a paraplegic who rarely left his house.
“We didn't know what to expect since it was the first time,” the sheriff said of Saturday's response. “A thousand
would have been neat, but this is very good.”
The most serious warrant handled was for Colvert Mockbee, 38, of Wilder, who had been sought since April 1998 on a felony probation violation.
A lawyer showed up to explain that Mr. Mockbee is already in prison for another offense.
Bill Crockett, chief prosecutor, suggested Amnesty Day be repeated, possibly extending it to an Amnesty Week.
“These (deputies) will serve 20 warrants a day, but we'll issue 25,” he said. “So it never ends.”
One scofflaw got more than leniency.
Thelma England, 78, of Covington had been wanted since June 1998 for failing to get a dog license for her sheltie.
She shuffled into the justice center and explained to the judge that she didn't even have a sheltie. He be lieved her and dismissed the warrant.
The sheriff drove her home.
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