Cincinnati police have opened an investigation into whether accused pedophile Larry Eugene Howell molested boys in the city.

        Mr. Howell, 40, was charged with nine counts of sodomy in Kenton County after about 30 boys came forward to say they had sexual contact with the Erlanger man. Mr. Howell's alleged victims, ranging in age from 10 to 16, are from Kenton, Campbell, Boone and Hamilton counties, according to Erlanger police.

        One boy claims he had improper sexual contact with Mr. Howell in Ohio. Cincinnati Police Detective Steve Ventre said Mr. Howell knew the boy's cousins, who lived in Price Hill, where Mr. Howell spent time.

        Detective Ventre, of the personal crimes unit, said he would be surprised if his investigation doesn't uncover more alleged victims in Ohio, judging from the number of times Mr. Howell visited Cincinnati.

        “He spent a lot of time over here visiting someone,” Detective Ventre said.

        Ohio authorities will likely present any charges against Mr. Howell directly to a Hamilton County grand jury after police think they have located all of Mr. Howell's alleged victims, according to Detective Ventre.

        Mr. Howell, who remained in the Kenton County Detention Center on $250,000 cash bond Tuesday, waived his right to a formal arraignment in Kenton County District Court. Mr. Howell's attorney, David Bender, could not be reached for comment.

        The investigation into Mr. Howell escalated after he was picked up Nov. 27 on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of child pornography.

        He was released a day later after posting a $1,000 cash bond. The next day an angry mother of one of the alleged victims shot him in the groin and abdomen.

        The Covington mother, whom the Enquirer is not identifying to protect her child, claims she shot Mr. Howell after her 13-year-old son told her that the family acquaintance had molested him.

        She is free on bond, awaiting a grand jury decision on whether to indict her.

        Police confirmed that the woman's son is one of the alleged victims mentioned in charges filed in Kenton County. Erlanger police say additional charges could be filed in Kentucky.

        Kathy Miller-Cox, sexual abuse treatment director for the Family Nurturing Center in Florence, said molested children need to get counseling quickly. She said boys must be reassured that being molested by a man doesn't make them gay.

        Some children develop post-traumatic stress disorder, which includes agitated behavior, anxiety, nightmares and repetitive play in which aspects of the abuse are acted out.

        Children, especially boys, tend to act out with behavioral problems. Others withdraw, sometimes becoming depressed.

        “The children need early and appropriate intervention by professionals,” she said.

        “Boys feel guilt. You need a trained professional to deal with those issues.”

        Anyone with information about the cases can call Cincinnati police at (513) 352-6474 or Erlanger police at (859) 727-2424.

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