Friday, January 07, 2000
Dead man indicted on drug charge
Oversight not so unusual, official says
BY SHEILA McLAUGHLIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEBANON — More than six weeks after a Franklin Township man committed suicide in his barn, a Warren County grand jury indicted him on a drug charge.
Warren County authorities said they did not know Carl Jones was dead when they presented his case to a grand jury on Dec. 27 in a hearing that resulted in an indictment on cocaine possession.
They didn't find out until a relative of Mr. Jones, who had read about the indictment in a local newspaper, called the prosecutor's office to question the court action. Mr. Jones, 44, died Nov. 8.
“This isn't as unusual as you think,” Warren County Prosecutor Tim Oliver said Thursday. He filed a motion to drop the charge on Tuesday.
“It has happened before and as long as the system is the way it is and there is no particular tracking system, it's likely to happen again. I don't see any way in which it could not hap pen again,” Mr. Oliver said.
Mr. Jones was arrested outside the New York-New York Cabaret in Franklin Oct. 20 for disorderly conduct. At the time, a police officer found a straw with possible cocaine residue in Mr. Jones' shirt pocket.
No drug charge was filed at the time, but the straw was sent to a testing lab to determine if the substance was cocaine. If the test was positive, authorities planned to take the case directly to a grand jury.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jones' disorderly conduct charge was resolved two days after his arrest, court records show. After Mr. Jones failed to appear for a hearing in Franklin Municipal Court Oct. 22, a judge forfeited the $200 bond he had posted and applied it as a fine and court costs. The case was closed.
Police received the lab results from the cocaine residue just before the grand jury session, Mr. Oliver said. Because defendants generally are not permitted to take part in grand jury proceedings, there would have been no reason to contact Mr. Jones.
“So, there was no reason to know anything happened,” Mr. Oliver said.
Americana park ends 77 years of family fun
25 million visited park over 77 years
Feeling sick? It's probably not flu - yet
Telltale signs your cold's not flu
The end is near - maybe
Dems may send novice against Chabot
Boehner files for 6th House term
Boehner foe will try again
County advertises for foster parents
Dead man indicted on drug charge
More bribery allegations at E-check site
Ban smoking? Hamilton debate heated
Board loosens pension standards
Boater pleads not guilty in deaths
Driver's alcohol level cited in teacher's death
Mayor maps out 'rebirth' plan
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Best part of 'Malcolm' is Malcolm
Blue Ash couple counts on gang of old friends
GET TO IT
Auditor: Voucher school owes $80,000
Bank robbery defendant to pursue deal, lawyer says
County vows to fight billboards
Court suspends lawyer's license
Duveneck House renewal OK
Fernald cleanup crew looks to finish in 2006
Fire-damaged center to reopen
Judge Black joins Supreme Court race
McConnell, Bunning star at fund-raiser
New fire chief feels lucky
New water main in Whitewater fails test
Rural-crash fatalities fall in Ky.
School expansion taking shape
Sewer stench forces office to close
Tornado destroyed or damaged 2,277 homes
TRISTATE DIGEST
