Man gets probation over locker room videos

        LEBANON — A West Virginia man who was caught videotaping boys and a man in the locker room at Paramount's Kings Island's water park last year was sentenced to two years of probation Friday.

        Two felony voyeurism charges against Steven Ray Meester, 33, were reduced to misdemeanors Friday in a plea agreement, court officials said.

        Mr. Meester, who appeared before Judge Neal Bronson in Warren County Common Pleas Court, was arrested July 22 after the man confronted him in the locker room. Police said a bag had a hole cut in one end and a camera lens protruded from it.

        According to police reports, Mr. Meester told investigators he intended to film men to view later for sexual gratification. Mr. Meester said he did not intend to capture any juveniles on film.

Port Authority to open meetings

        Citing new legal advice and a need to be more open to the public, the Port Authority overseeing development of the Cincinnati riverfront has backed off plans to conduct some of its key committee meetings behind closed doors.

        A Port Authority attorney initially told board members Jan. 4 that the committees didn't have to allow the public in meetings or even notify the public of them if the groups were small enough.

        But Bruce Jones, of the Squire Sanders & Dempsey law firm, now says Ohio's open meetings law requires that committee meetings be open for the public, said the Port Authority's interim executive director, Tim Sharp.
       

Detroit man admits role in shooting death

        A Detroit man pleaded guilty Friday to taking part in a fatal shooting and robbery in July in Walnut Hills.

        Demetric Reynolds, 21, faces up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery. He entered the plea before Judge Robert Kraft in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.

        Mr. Reynolds is accused of taking part in the robbery and shooting of Bubacarr Kassama, a 25-year-old Colerain Township man. He was found dead July 9 on a sidewalk on Fulton Avenue.
       

Public library to revamp Web page

        A new Web page design that will better serve the research and information needs of users will be unveiled by The Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County on Monday.

        The Web page will improve access to information about the programs and services of the library. It marks a departure from the way information is organized and presented on the current home page.

        Users will be able to link to nearly all the information on the Web site right from the home page (www.plch.lib.oh.us). Important content that had previously been buried deep within the Web site is now featured at the top level, where it will be readily accessible. Information: 369-6959.

Bond Hill man gets 12 years for rapes

        A Bond Hill man was sentenced to 12 years in prison Friday for raping two women in the back of his van.

        John Barnes, 43, was accused of luring the women into the van on different occasions by pretending to be a bootleg cabdriver. Once the women were inside, prosecutors say, Mr. Barnes drove to a loading dock in Walnut Hills and raped them.

        Mr. Barnes pleaded guilty last month to two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape. He was sentenced Friday by Judge Arthur Ney in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.
       

Lebanon man charged in car crash death

        A Lebanon man is facing a misdemeanor charge in connection with a Jan. 2 car crash that killed a 33-year-old Maineville woman.

        Raymond S. Davis, 74, was charged Friday with vehicular manslaughter, Hamilton County sheriff's spokesman Steve Barnett said.

        Police said Mr. Davis was driving a 1992 Cadillac south on Interstate 71 near Fields-Ertel Road when he changed lanes in front of a 1996 Ford Taurus. The Ford struck the Cadillac, crossed the median and was struck by a northbound Toyota.

        Kirstine Fantini, the driver of the Ford, was killed. The driver of the Toyota, Joseph Wintrob, 57, of Wyoming, was injured. Grace B. Davis, 62, Mr. Davis' wife, a passenger in the Cadillac, was treated at Bethesda North Hospital and released.
       

Police seek info on I-275 traffic death

        BATAVIA — Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers have identified Jeffrey T. Strait, 43, of Milford as the man killed Thursday on Interstate 275 in Clermont County.

        Police say Mr. Strait died after he walked into the right lane of southbound I-275 and was struck by a truck. The accident happened north of U.S. 50.

        The incident remains under investigation, and troopers are asking anyone who was traveling on I-275 in the area and may have witnessed the crash, or saw a disabled vehicle between 6:45 and 7:15 a.m., to call the Batavia state police post at 732-1510.
       

Trenton getting two new officers

        TRENTON — City Manager Ron Phelps on Friday approved Chief Rod Hale's recommendations for two new police officers.

        They are:

        • Joe Zianno, 32, of Fairfield, who had served as a part-time officer for Fairfield Township and worked full-time as a security officer for Deaconess Hospital.

        • Mike Matala, 22, of Hamilton, who has been a corrections officer for the Butler County Sheriff's Office for 16 months.

        Both officers begin work Jan. 29.
       

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