Saturday, April 29, 2000
State investigating Holcomb aide's use of crime computer
Were checks on boss' opponent mere accident?
By Janice Morse and Earnest Winston
The Cincinnati Enquirer
TRENTON — State authorities are investigating whether the Ohio crime information computer was used improperly or illegally when Butler County Prosecutor's investigator J.C. Kristanoff accessed it to check on his boss' political opponent.
Mr. Kristanoff told police that a check on Robin Piper's Social Security number was accidental.
That claim is hard to believe, says Mr. Piper, the Republican candidate for prosecutor, especially since records show the checks were performed not once, but twice: on Feb. 8 and Feb. 28.
Prosecutor John F. Holcomb defended Mr. Kristanoff, saying he did nothing wrong.
Mr. Kristanoff did not return telephone calls Friday seeking comment.
State investigators said Friday they intend to ask Mr. Holcomb to review the matter, but Mr. Holcomb said he planned no probe, because the situation was “no big deal” and “doesn't amount to a hill of beans.”
Said Mr. Piper: “His investigator has caused the Ohio State Patrol to conduct an investigation and he doesn't care? That's absolutely irresponsible.”
Lt. James Hamilton of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, which supervises the computer, said investigators haven't yet formally asked Mr. Holcomb to investigate. “I'm still hopeful that he
will cooperate with us, as he is required to do by law,” he said.
The computer's use, by law, is limited to criminal-justice purposes. Using it for political purposes would be a violation, Lt. Hamilton said. Possible penalties range from barring future use to criminal prosecution, police said.
Trenton Police Chief Joe E. Richard says Mr. Kristanoff has sometimes used the Trenton police computer to conduct background checks. So his requests for checks on Feb. 8 and Feb. 28 drew no attention at first.
But earlier this month, Chief Richard received a let ter dated April 5 from the committee that monitors use of the state computer known as LEADS (Law Enforcement Automated Data System).
The letter said the LEADS committee had been alerted to possible misuses of the computer, and asked Chief Richard to investigate five transactions from Trenton's LEADS terminal.
All five involved Mr. Piper's name and/or Social Security number, Chief Richard said.
Three of the transactions took place Feb. 8, the same day Mr. Kristanoff went to the Lake Erie village of Put-In-Bay to get documents about a minor misdemeanor marijuana citation issued to Mr. Piper in 1981.
Mr. Piper said he paid a $60 fine by mail.
Someone later leaked the Put-In-Bay records to a Cincinnati TV station, making Mr. Piper's past drug use an issue in the campaign.
Officials in Put-In-Bay told The Cincinnati Enquirer this week they were angry over Mr. Kristanoff's inquiry, suggesting he misled them by telling them he was there on official business. Mr. Kristanoff denied misrepresenting the purpose of his visit.
When Mr. Kristanoff requested the LEADS checks, “he said he was investigating a child-abuse case,” Chief Richard said. The chief said he called Mr. Kristanoff to discuss the matter after receiving the LEADS letter. “I asked Kristanoff if the subject of the transaction had anything to do with an upcoming election,” Chief Richard said in a letter sent to the LEADS committee Thursday.
Mr. Kristanoff denied any such motive, Chief Richard said, and indicated that he had made a mistake while investigating alleged child abuse involving a musician in a group whose name includes the word “Pipers.”
Chief Richard said names of music groups would not be included in the LEADS system.
New ballpark still shrouded in mystery
'Son of Beast' gets thumbs-up
State investigating Holcomb aide's use of crime computer
ATP tourney looks for new site
City street honors Sabin
Maybe we could survive attack
Megan's Law upheld in Ohio
Plan to make prostitutes pay for 'shame ads' scrapped
Schools get gift: an angel
St. Ursula expansion begins
Student charged after bomb threat
GET TO IT
Minimalistic dancing is novel, but tiresome
Truls Mork's cello enlivens orchestra
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Agencies receive raise from record United Way gift
Bank robbery suspects arrested
Blood testing sought for boys
Census workers hit streets today
City offers to purchase properties
City plans hearing on zoning bid
Council member casts 1st votes
District raises reading scores with inclusive approach
Ex-con acquitted of rape counts
Harrison celebrates 150th year
Kidnap case awaits tests
Lebanon may pay to fix train tracks
Students blaze research trail
Surgeons' abandoned house may be razed, county says
Teacher quits amid chair flap
Tristate Digest
Woman's clothes set on fire
