HAMILTON — In Butler County's first case prosecuted under the state's tougher juvenile-offender law, a judge on Thursday threw out some statements of a 14-year-old stabbing suspect who claimed her Miranda rights were violated.

        But Juvenile Court Judge David Niehaus ruled that the girl's bloody coat — and a knife sheath found in its pocket — would be admitted as evidence at trial, set for June 14.

        The Williamsdale girl, an eighth-grader at Edgewood Middle School, is charged with two counts of felonious assault in the March 26 knife attack on another teen in St. Clair Township. The victim, also 14, suffered knife wounds to her face, throat and chest, officials said.

        The defendant, whose name the Enquirer is withholding because of her age, faces tougher penalties if convicted under Ohio's new “serious youthful offender” law. Under that same law, an Avondale teen has been standing trial this week in Hamilton County in connection with the death of her father, who had bleach thrown on him.

        Effective Jan. 1, the law says youths at least 10 years old charged with specific felony-level offenses can be subject to a “blended sentence”: a juvenile term plus an adult term triggered under certain conditions.

        “It does allow us to hold adult consequences over their heads,” said Greg Stephens, a Butler County assistant prosecutor.

        If the defendant in the stabbing case is convicted, she faces at least a year on each count in the Ohio Department of Youth Services — and the judge also may impose an adult term of two to eight years on each charge, Mr. Stephens said.

        Defense lawyer Patricia Downing argued her client's rights were violated when questioning continued after the girl asked a deputy for a lawyer. Sheriff's Sgt. Jean Collett read the girl's Miranda rights while the teen was handcuffed and unable to sign a rights-acknowledgement card. The girl says she interrupted and asked for a lawyer, but Sgt. Collett testified she didn't remember that happening.

        Judge Niehaus said he couldn't recall a juvenile suspect being “Mirandized” in such a fashion in his 21 years on the bench, and he said the girl's testimony “has a ring of truthfulness.” He said the deputy may have “bulldozed right through” the process.

        “She should not have been read her rights under (those) circumstances,” the judge said. The judge suppressed any statements the girl made after her rights were read.

$1.9 billion Ohio budget is approved
Highlights of Ohio's new budget
New tax goes after gains held in trusts
Team forming to woo Convergys
Ex-Cincinnatian feels awed by site
Blood drive fails to fix donor shortage
Blue Wisp Jazz Club finds new spot downtown
Carew Tower jumper dies in Fla.
Cause of death unclear
Man who died in crash was facing robbery trial
Norwood plans bypass planners
Obituary: Roberta Maxey taught kindergarten 30 years
Rookies pass trial by fire; no one hurt in Evanston
Tristate A.M. Report
Two officers admit to sex with woman
BRONSON: Not pedophilia
HOWARD: Some Good News
SMITH AMOS: Opening windows
WELLS: Detainees
Developer issues apology for PR
Fire training hands-on
Grand jury won't hear youths' case
Judge: Teen's rights violated
Feds: Traficant doesn't deserve retrial
Higher hotel tax passes Senate
Another suit claims church coverup
Camp sessions may be cut
GOP leader wants deal on budget
Kentucky News Briefs
Reward sought for psychic help
School pay raise likely in Boone