Friday, May 05, 2000
Inquiry widening in Butler Co. probe
By Janice Morse
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — State investigators have received more complaints of suspected misuse of Ohio's crime-
information computer in Butler County, Sgt. Gary Lewis of the Ohio State Highway Patrol confirmed Thursday.
A preliminary probe “substantiated” one possible misuse of the Law Enforcement Automated Data System in Butler County, Sgt. Lewis said. That involved LEADS checks that a Butler County prosecutor's investigator allegedly asked Trenton police to perform on Butler County Prosecutor John F. Hol comb's political opponent, Robin Piper. Investigator J.C. Kristanoff has said the checks were done by mistake.
Sgt. Lewis said he isn't permitted to release further information on the other allegations. But Cindy Carpenter, clerk of courts, said she is among those who have asked state authorities to investigate whether LEADS
checks were made on her Social Security number.
Ms. Carpenter said her political opponent, Brian Harrison, an assistant county prosecutor, came to the clerk's office on March 7 and reviewed files on Ms. Carpenter's divorce. Those records include her Social Security number, Ms. Carpenter said, so she wanted to ensure the information wasn't misused.
Mr. Harrison couldn't be reached for comment.
By law, use of the LEADS computer is limited to criminal justice purposes. Misuses have resulted in violators being fired, criminally prosecuted or barred from future use of the LEADS system, Sgt. Lewis said.
If the LEADS steering commit tee — which includes the state patrol and others — substantiates an allegation of misuse, it is standard procedure to refer the matter to the agency involved with the violation.
After the agency conducts an internal investigation, the LEADS committee reviews the agency's report to ensure the probe was fair and thorough, Sgt. Lewis said. If the LEADS committee is dissatisfied, further investigations could be launched, he said.
The LEADS committee has referred the matter to Mr. Holcomb's office for an internal investigation.
While Mr. Holcomb couldn't be reached for comment late Thursday afternoon, he has repeatedly stated that the incident warrants no investigation.
In an interview broadcast on WCPO-TV (Channel 9) on Thursday, Mr. Holcomb said, “I don't know that there's any big investigation going on. ... (Mr. Kristanoff) caused a license check to be run on a license plate, and I don't see how that's any big deal. Policemen do that every day of the week.”
However, Trenton Police Chief Joe E. Richard says the checks — performed five times on two separate dates in February — involved Mr. Piper's name and/or Social Security number, not a license plate.
Duane Marcum, a Fairfield resident who addressed the county commissioners' meeting Thursday, said he was concerned that the alleged misuse would be covered up.
“This sounds like Watergate in Butler County. ... I'm offended that my taxpayer dollars are being used to do this,” he said.
Commission President Chuck Furmon, a former police officer, told Mr. Marcum it would be premature for the commissioners to do anything now. Mr. Furmon said he was confident the state patrol would ensure the matter is investigated properly.
Commissioner Mike Fox said he hoped that any probe would determine whether the alleged LEADS abuses were more widespread. He said he wondered whether LEADS checks have been run on other officeholders, people who write letters to the editor or news reporters.
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