The Cincinnati Arts Association should not appeal a judge's ruling dismissing its lawsuit against boycott groups, Mayor Charlie Luken said.

        Mr. Luken, commenting on the court decision for the first time, said he understands the goal of the lawsuit and will “continue to oppose the boycott at every turn.”

        “However, the Constitution does stand for the right of individuals to come together to assert a point of view or insist on a course of action. The courts, no matter how much they disagree with those individuals, must protect those rights,” the mayor said in a memo to CAA lawyers Tuesday.

        Mr. Luken said he agreed with Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Nurre's decision dismissing the lawsuit, which seeks to recover damages the organization incurred after a number of entertainers canceled performances in observance of the boycott.

        Two groups — the Cincinnati Black United Front and the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati — have called for the boycott to protest what they say is police brutality and “economic apartheid.”

        The mayor is a member of the arts association's board of trustees.

Glendale picks clerk treasurer

        GLENDALE — Dr. Robert Boggs has been named village clerk treasurer, replacing Randall Stolt, whose resignation is effective Oct. 7.

        Mayor Tom Todd said Dr. Boggs will be sworn in at the village council meeting Oct. 7. Mr. Todd and council members interviewed eight village residents who applied for the unpaid position.

        Dr. Boggs will serve until April 2004. His post is up for re-election in November 2003.

Charges vs. Boyles may be combined

        Prosecutors on Tuesday told a Hamilton County judge they would seek to consolidate charges against William David Boyles, accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend.

        The 27-year-old Price Hill man is being held on multiple charges in connection with the April death of 24-year-old Sara Ridder, mother of his three children.

        Mr. Boyles pleaded not guilty Tuesday to the latest charges he faces — two counts each of complicity to aggravated murder and having weapons under disability. Prosecutors say he hired someone to kill Ms. Ridder and that on two occasions, he had a .22-caliber handgun and a SKS assault rifle, despite being on house arrest.

        He had the rifle two days before Ms. Ridder's April 15 murder, according to the indictment.

        Mr. Boyles also faces charges of burglary, assault and domestic violence for allegedly breaking into Ms. Ridder's Westwood apartment and assaulting her in March.

Ex-Bristol's dancer to serve drug term

        LEBANON — A former Bristol's dancer sentenced to 10 days for prostitution will spend another month in jail for selling drugs to an undercover officer.

        Jana Ullman, 22, of Fairfield, decided Tuesday not to withdraw her guilty plea to felony drug trafficking.

        “She wanted to get a very unpleasant situation behind her, take her medicine, do her penalty and get on with her life,” her attorney, James Hartke, said after the sentencing hearing in Warren County Common Pleas Court.

        He had filed a motion weeks ago to withdraw the plea, claiming that Ms. Ullman felt rushed into a deal by her former attorney, the late John Quinn.

        Judge P. Daniel Fedders said the 30-day drug sentence would be served after Ms. Ullman is finished with the 10-day sentence imposed by Lebanon Municipal Court.

        A jury convicted her Sept. 7 of three misdemeanor counts of prostitution on charges of having oral sex with other Bristol's dancers during private dances for undercover officers.

        The officers were investigating the club on suspicion of drug trafficking. Ms. Ullman is appealing that conviction, Mr. Hartke said.

        Judge Fedders also placed Ms. Ullman, who is three months pregnant and now works in sales for a window company, on probation for three years and ordered her to undergo weekly drug and alcohol testing.

Man given 47 years in fatal shooting

        A 52-year-old Over-the-Rhine man was sentenced to 47 years to life in prison on Tuesday for shooting one man to death and wounding three others in May 2001.

        Garey Smith told Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Robert Kraft that he intends to appeal his conviction.

        A Hamilton County jury found him guilty last month of multiple counts, including murder and attempted murder, for the death of Jimmie Gordon, 29, and the wounding of three other men.

        Mr. Smith contended that he was acting in self-defense, but prosecutors said he sought revenge against people he believed had robbed him, and mistakenly shot the wrong people.

Doctors association has new president

        The Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati installed Dr. James Masters as its 2002-2003 president on Monday.

        Dr. Masters, a radiologist who practices mostly at Christ Hospital, takes a leading role for the Tristate's largest physician trade group amid a turbulent time for area doctors.

        The academy is involved in a lawsuit against several health insurers over reimbursement.

        The group also is pushing for changes in state law to limit damage awards in malpractice cases.

Union Institute names interim chief

        The Board of Trustees at Union Institute and University has appointed Roger H. Sublett, the school's provost, to serve as acting president of the institution until a permanent successor is chosen.

        Dr. Sublett joined the school in May 2001 as interim vice president for national undergraduate programs and has served as provost since March 2002.

        President Judith Sturnick announced recently her intent to retire.

        Union is a private, accredited university tailored to nontraditional students.

Man accused in Silverton break-in

        SILVERTON — A Kennedy Heights man has been charged in a Silverton house burglary.

        Dewayne Cunningham, 19, is facing one count of burglary after police say he broke into a Siebern Avenue house Aug. 1 and stole about $1,300 in cash and property.

        He is being held in the Hamilton County jail in lieu of a $30,000 cash bond.

        Cincinnati police officers arrested Mr. Cunningham early Sunday at a Kellogg Avenue nightclub, Silverton police Lt. Bruce Plummer said.

        Silverton police are still investigating several home burglaries that occurred recently.

        At least seven daytime break-ins were reported at Silverton residences during one month this summer.

— Compiled from staff and wire reports

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