GOP activist to be clerk of court

Hamilton County Assistant Prosecutor Greg Hartmann will take over the county Clerk of Court Office in February, replacing the departing James Cissell.

Mr. Hartmann, 35, of Mount Lookout, has been executive director of the county Republican Party since early this year. He also served as a member of George W. Bush's advance team and on other campaigns.

The Virginia native graduated from Pepperdine University's law school in 1997.

The county party appointed Mr. Hartmann on Thursday to the seat left vacant when Mr. Cissell was elected probate judge in November. He takes office Feb. 9.

Mr. Hartmann said he plans to review concerns about personal information posted on the clerk of court's Web site.

Lawyer robbed in Over-the-Rhine office

A Cincinnati criminal defense lawyer was robbed at gunpoint Monday afternoon inside his law office.

Bruce Hust was working on the eighth floor of the American Building on Central Parkway in Over-the-Rhine about 12:45 p.m. when he noticed at least one man, and possibly two, in the waiting area. He said he didn't think much about it because the door between the waiting area and office suite was locked.

But somehow, the robber got inside the inner office; Mr. Hust thinks he climbed through the receptionist's window. He said the man pointed a semiautomatic handgun at him and demanded his wallet. Mr. Hust complied.

Mr. Hust was a staff public defender for Hamilton County before switching to private practice in 2000. He said he did not recognize the robber.

Mr. Hust described the robber as black, in his 20s with uneven teeth and wearing a black knit cap and dark clothes.

Woman who faked illness is indicted

LEBANON - If you're thinking about calling off sick when you're not, think again. You could be charged with a crime.

That's what happened to a Hamilton woman who was indicted in Warren County Monday on felony charges of theft and forgery.

Sandra L. Bedow, 52, an employee of FACS Group, is accused of falsifying a doctor's excuse and disability papers to obtain $2,032 in sick pay from the Mason company for eight weeks in April and May.

Prosecutor Tim Oliver said it's the first case he can recall in which a company pursued charges against an employee accused of abusing sick time.

Two indicted after invasion, robbery

Two men were indicted Monday in connection with a home invasion robbery this month on Desoto Drive in Springfield Township.

Roger Edwards, 27, and Nathaniel A. Riggins, 26, both of Springfield Township, were indicted on charges of aggravated burglary, burglary, two counts of kidnapping, improperly discharging a firearm, having weapons while under disability and carrying a concealed weapon.

Lawmaker back after hospital stay

COLUMBUS - Ohio Rep. Geoffrey Smith was back at work Monday after being briefly hospitalized with a high fever and flulike symptoms.

Mr. Smith said he fell ill in his office Friday afternoon after a lunch meeting and was held overnight at Grant Medical Center as a precaution.

He was sent home Saturday morning, but the hospital would not release any information Saturday or Sunday.

"They did a bunch of tests on me, and everything came back negative," Mr. Smith said.

Mr. Smith, 34, is a Republican from Columbus. He is among three lawmakers considering applying for the seat of Republican state Sen. Priscilla Mead, who announced last week that she is leaving in January.

Deaths apparently murder-suicide

DAYTON, Ohio - A man apparently shot his live-in girlfriend to death and then turned the gun on himself, the coroner's office said Monday.

The bodies of Thad Peterson, 26, and Angela Marcum, 31, were found by a relative Sunday in the couple's home on the city's east side.

Both died of single gunshot wounds to the head, said Ken Betz, director of the Montgomery County Coroner's Office.

Police said a weapon was found at the scene, and there were no signs of forced entry or a struggle.

Dayton Police Sgt. Gary White said the couple had been living together.

"It's my understanding that they may have even come to be engaged to be married in the past few months," Sgt. White said.

- Compiled from staff and wire reports