LEBANON — A 53-year-old former insurance salesman jailed in Warren County on charges that he bilked unwary clients now is suspected in a November heist of $200,000 in diamonds from a Springdale jewelry store.

        An affidavit for a search warrant filed in Warren County said four people, including an aunt, identified William L. Herman, of Springboro, as the suspect on a surveillance video that captured the Nov. 28 armed robbery at Finer Diamonds.

        “He is a possible suspect,” Springdale Lt. Bill Fields said Monday.

        No charges have been filed, Lt. Fields said, while officers sort through items seized during a Thursday search of Mr. Herman's 1991 Dodge van at the Springboro police station.

        Springboro police arrested him March 7 on allegations that he took money for an insurance premium from a client but did not deliver a policy.

        At the time of his arrest, police said Mr. Herman was living out of his van and area motels after a divorce and foreclosure on his $254,000 home in Heatherwoode subdivision.

        Springboro Detective Aaron Zimmaro said at least 15 people from Warren, Montgomery and Preble counties have contacted authorities with complaints of similar allegations against Mr. Herman, who lost his license to sell insurance in June.

        He is jailed in Warren County in lieu of $100,000 bail, and is serving a 30-day sentence imposed March 11 for failure to pay $1,543 in support to his children and ex-wife.

        According to state records, the Ohio Department of Insurance revoked Mr. Herman's license after he admitted he took $468 from a client on June 24, 1999, and failed to submit the mon ey to Bankers Life and Casualty Co.

        Springboro police contacted authorities in Hamilton County March 22 when a detective recognized Mr. Herman in a wanted poster, the affidavit said.

        The poster, distributed by Springdale police, contained a surveillance photograph of the suspect in the Finer Diamonds robbery.

        During that incident, a gray-haired and bearded man entered the jewelry story at 137 E. Kemper Road about 7:10 p.m., produced a hand gun and pointed it at store owner Allen Finer.

        Mr. Finer told police the robber demanded loose diamonds and fled with 30 jewels. Mr. Finer chased the man from the store and observed him drive away in a light colored station wagon.

        Mr. Finer said the same man had visited his shop a week earlier.

        “He knew what to do here. He was very, very clever,” Mr. Finer said.

Police union OKs profiling suit deal
Settlement provisions
Background on issues, settlement
City trying to raise $600,000 for lawyers
Violence part of daily life in Over-the-Rhine
Air security scare delays some flights
Airport security switches to new firm
Hunt goes on for missing Ala. man
PULFER: Thanks, farewell to Monte
RADEL: Cop gets second chance to help kids
Store manager shot dead in robbery
Suspect indicted on eight rape counts
Two students cited for volunteering
City seeking $1M for cement site
Doctor to head learning program
Drug prevention conference expected to draw 4,000 youths
Good News: Surgery gives man new role
Holocaust lesson for students
Lessons in paper-folding introduce children to Asian arts
Local Digest
Trees preserved for centuries
Trial opens in abuse case
Charged man suspected in heist
City center planners off to Denver
Kids study Deerfield sprawl
Lebanon to propose new phone rates
Butler-Warren recreation notes
Second-grader has best penmanship in state
Victim's children sue detective
Nine Cleveland priests suspended on sex abuse allegations
Traficant fate in jury's hands
Unmarked graves at building site baffle Frankfort