Wednesday, April 12, 2000
AM REPORT
Man sentenced in theft of telescope lens
A former area resident has been sentenced to three years of probation for stealing a rare telescope lens from the Cincinnati Astronomical Society in 1981.
On Monday, Robert Keith Thomas Jr. was sentenced to three years probation, 300 hours of community service, and a $500 fine by U.S. District Court Judge Leon Jordan, of the Eastern District of Tennessee, Knoxville.
In January, Mr. Thomas, 50, pleaded guilty to possessing, concealing, storing, bartering and disposing of the rare 81/4-inch refracting lens manufactured in 1880 by Alvan Clark and Sons.
Mr. Thomas also pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI regarding the stolen lens.
In July 1999, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office's criminal investigative section was told by members of Cincinnati Astronomical Society that the stolen lens had possibly surfaced in Tennessee and had been donated to Roane State Community College.
The lens is in possession of the FBI and will be returned to Cincinnati at a future date.
Graeter's robbed by man with note
A man who handed employees a note threatening to harm them if they didn't give him cash robbed the Graeter's ice cream store in Sycamore Township on Tuesday.
The robber entered the store in the 7300 block of Kenwood Road at 3:37 p.m. and handed the employees the note, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said.
When employees gave the robber money from the cash register, he put the cash in a paper bag and fled on foot.
The suspect is described as a black male, 20 to 25, 6 feet to 6-feet-2, 150 pounds, with black hair. He was wearing a white long-sleeve shirt and a white ball cap.
The incident is under investigation by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Patrol's criminal investigations section.
deck Ex-Red pays off child-support debt
Former Reds outfielder Kal Daniels wrote a check Tuesday to pay off the money he owed to support his 8-year-old son.
Mr. Daniels, now retired from baseball and living in Georgia, pleaded no contest last month to charges of failing to pay child support.
Prosecutors say he made regular child support payments until 1997. They say the payments stopped and his debt had grown to $58,000 by the time he was charged.
Mr. Daniels, 36, wrote a check for $40,000 earlier this year and paid off the remaining $18,000 Tuesday. He is to appear in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court for sentencing today before Judge Fred Cartolano.
Breakfast to honor family advocates
FAIRFIELD — The Sixth Annual Celebrating Families Community Breakfast will be held Friday.
Five outstanding child and family advocates will receive awards at the breakfast, to be held at Receptions Banquet Hall from 8 to 10 a.m. The awards program is organized by the Celebrating Families Committee, a collaborative effort of human service organizations throughout Butler County.
The event is being held in conjunction with National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Substance Abuse Awareness Month and National Volunteer Week.
Information: Shelly Wallpe, Catholic Social Services, 863-6129, Ext. 221.
$1M embezzlement leads to prison term
COLUMBUS — A secretary who handled her company's books admitted to embezzling more than $1 million over 11 years.
Beverly Kunkel, 55, of Columbus, was sentenced Monday to eight to 11 years in prison on charges of theft and income-tax evasion.
Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Daniel Hogan, a former prosecutor, said he had “never come across anybody who has stolen this much money in my 20 years of doing criminal law.”
Ms. Kunkel had pleaded guilty in February to stealing the money from the Kendrick-Mollenauer Painting Co.
Problems at the company first were noticed two years ago, while Ms. Kunkel was on vacation.
A criminal investigation determined that Ms. Kunkel made out checks to herself, forging Mr. Kendrick's signature and endorsing the checks in pencil, prosecutors told the Columbus Dispatch.
When the canceled checks came back from the bank, Ms. Kunkel erased her name, inserted the name of a supplier and posted the check to the supplier's account.
An investigation found Ms. Kunkel lived the good life, said attorney Mary Jane McFadden, who represents the company in a civil lawsuit against Ms. Kunkel.
She said Ms. Kunkel paid for vacations to Florida and Hawaii for her and her husband and sometimes her children and grandchildren, Ms. McFadden said.
Money also was used to buy vehicles and make down payments on homes for her children, Ms. McFadden said.
On Monday, Ms. Kunkel offered a tearful apology. “No matter what happens today, I will carry the guilt, the shame and regret for what I have done for the rest of my life,” Ms. Kunkel told the court.
Ms. Kunkel's attorney, Stephen Moyer, said she has tried to make restitution, surrendering her house, vehicles, bank accounts and life-insurance policies. The company has received about $135,000 in restitution, Mr. Kendrick said.
Superintendent search narrowed
DAYTON, Ohio — Educators from Michigan and North Carolina are the two finalists for city schools superintendent.
The finalists are Kay Royster, superintendent of Kalamazoo (Mich.) Public Schools, and Gregory Thornton, assistant superintendent of Winston-Salem-Forsyth County (N.C.) Schools, the Dayton school board announced Monday.
They will attend public forums in Dayton today and Thursday.
Board members hope to choose a superintendent by May 1.
Interim Superintendent Jerrie Bascome McGill has run the school district since August, after the school board bought out the contract of Superintendent James Williams.
Ex-coroner pleads not guilty to charges
SPRINGFIELD — Former Clark County coroner Dr. Dirk Wood has pleaded not guilty to charges of prescription drug fraud, possessing illegal firearms, and tampering with witnesses and evidence.
A 31-count indictment was announced Monday against Dr. Wood, 46, who was coroner from 1991 to 1997. He is free on $50,000 bond.
Messages seeking comment Tuesday from Dr. Wood and his attorney, Jon Doughty, were not immediately returned.
If convicted, Dr. Wood could face up to 71 years in prison and $116,000 in fines.
He is accused of writing false prescriptions for painkilling drugs and of possessing painkillers.
Dr. Wood left office after losing the 1996 election.
Private Baptist school changes name
CEDARVILLE — Cedarville College will change its name to Cedarville University on Sept. 1 to further differentiate it from two-year schools.
President Paul Dixon said many two-year colleges have dropped “community” and “technical” from their names in recent years.
More than 2,700 students are enrolled at the four-year private Baptist school that is known for its business administration, education and engineering programs.
Cedarville is about 15 miles east of Dayton.
Animal giants get more leg room
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City's first known methamphetamine lab broken up
Fire causes $400,000 damage
Taft argues with foes of gun bill
Townships want new defenses
Bell tolls world peace via new education program
Warren airport, neighbors at odds
AM REPORT
Campbell open to consolidation
Clermont ready to offer gun locks
GET TO IT
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Ky. Senate passes $14 billion budget plan
Lights, action - education
Meeting opens study of I-75
Middletown man faces charges in crash
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N.Ky. projects in line for budget money
New Monroe district gets its first board
Norwood director criticized
Polar bears are next to get improved lodging at the zoo
UC physicians consider facilities in suburbs
WUBE fires disc jockey Jim Fox
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
