LEBANON — Former officials at Warren County's agency for the mentally disabled violated state law when they bought two houses at inflated prices without having the properties appraised, but they didn't commit a crime, the county prosecutor said Friday.

        Warren County Prosecutor Tim Oliver said he was dropping the investigation, barring any new evidence, because there was not sufficient evidence to obtain a criminal conviction. The decision followed an extensive investigation that included grand-jury testimony and the questioning of dozens of witnesses in four states.

        “Clearly, Warren County MRDD (metal retardation/developmental disabilities) failed to appraise the properties in question contrary to the requirements of Ohio law,” Mr. Oliver said in a prepared statement. “The Ohio Revised Code does not make failure to appraise a criminal offense.”

        Mr. Oliver said that matters uncovered during the investigation were referred to other governmental agencies for review. He declined to identify the agencies or to comment on anything outside his prepared statement.

        The investigation focused on the 1999 purchases of properties in Springboro and Maineville, in which MRDD paid about $155,000 above market price.

        MRDD paid $173,500 for a three-bedroom Springboro house in December, three months after Merdia LeMaster bought it for $98,500. In March, MRDD bought a four-bedroom house in Maineville for $178,500 about a month after Harry Montgomery paid $98,160 for it.

        At the time, MRDD officials said neither seller was associated with anyone at the agency. The properties were to be used as group homes for mentally retarded adults who need limited supervision.

        Public outcry over the purchases triggered the resignation of MRDD Superintendent Charlotte Marinacci — who negotiated the purchases. — and a call by county comissioners for the same from agency board members, who were accused of failing to properly monitor Mrs. Marinacci's activities.
       

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