LEBANON — A Warren County grand jury has reduced a charge against an assistant manager arrested in the investigation of alleged steroid trafficking at Body Masters Ultimate Fitness Club in Mason.

        Kristopher Dill now faces a misdemeanor charge of attempted trafficking. Two undercover drug agents say he offered to sell anabolic steroids on Nov. 1, Warren County Prosecutor Timothy Oliver said.

        Mr. Dill, 23, of Oregonia, initially was charged with felony drug trafficking.

        The announcement came days after the same grand jury indicted Body Masters manager Craig Sper, 39, of Delhi Township, on one felony count of trafficking in steroids, which are sometimes illicitly obtained and used by athletes to increase strength and muscle mass.

        Mr. Sper is accused of selling the substance to an acquaintance at the fitness club last April.

        Asked to explain the grand jury's action involving Mr. Dill, Mr. Oliver said, “Mr. Dill is cooperating at this point in time in the investigation.”

        Officials with the Warren County Drug Task Force had said earlier that Mr. Dill had identified his source for the steroids.

        In other grand jury actions:

        • Melody Jane Baire became the first Warren County person to be charged under a 7-month-old law that allows the prosecution of suspects who are found with substances commonly used to produce methamphetamine.

        The 41-year-old Maineville woman, who also goes by Monica King, was arrested Dec. 21 after authorities said she shoplifted $48 in over-the-counter sinus medication and lithium batteries. Mr. Oliver said less than a gram of methamphetamine was found in Ms. Baire's pocket.

        She is charged with illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, theft and aggravated possession of drugs.

        • Jonathan Lee McAllister, who is serving a life sentence for killing a 60-year-old Amelia man during a burglary in 1978, now is accused of stabbing an inmate at Lebanon Correctional Institution.

        A grand jury indicted Mr. McAllister, formerly of Moscow, Ohio, on two counts of felonious assault involving the attack on inmate Derrick C. Howard in the prison yard on April 8.

        Mr. Howard received minor injuries when he was stabbed twice in the back with a metal shank, Mr. Oliver said.

        Mr. McAllister was convicted in the shooting death of George White.

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