Ohio reports five holiday traffic fatals

COLUMBUS - Five people were killed in traffic crashes over the New Year's holiday period in Ohio, compared to 12 over the same period last year, the Ohio State Highway Patrol reported Thursday.

The holiday period was from Dec. 30 through Jan. 1.

Patrol officials said three of the fatalities were the result of alcohol use and four of those killed were not wearing seat belts.

Jan. popular month for gun confiscation

Mondays and the month of January were the most common times for night officers in Cincinnati police's District 1 unit to recover weapons last year.

Of the 150 handguns and long guns confiscated by the district's two night shifts, January was the leading month for recoveries with 23, followed by October with 22, then September with 21.

Monday was the most popular day, also with 28, followed by Tuesdays with 26 and Sundays with 23.

The two night shifts started keeping their "gun board'' in late 2001 as a way to show good work and remind officers what weapons are out on the streets. The district patrols Over-the-Rhine, downtown and the West End. Some other shifts in other districts followed suit.

Sheriffs ready to ID sex offenders on net

INDIANAPOLIS - Sheriffs plan to start posting photographs and addresses of convicted sex offenders on a new Web site beginning next week unless the Indiana Supreme Court blocks provisions of a new state law.

The site, to be administered by the Indiana Sheriffs' Association, should be operational and available for public view by 4:30 p.m. Monday, according to an affidavit filed with the high court Thursday.

The Indiana Civil Liberties Union wants the court to block the new law, saying its provisions violate the due process rights of sex offenders already listed in a statewide registry. A lower court and the Indiana Court of Appeals denied the ICLU's request this week.

The Supreme Court deferred action on the ICLU's appeal Tuesday, giving the group, sheriffs and state attorney general's office until Thursday to file affidavits. The justices received the affidavits but made no ruling Thursday.

Judge's DUI records to be scrutinized

COLUMBUS - A hearing has been ordered to determine whether the records of a judge charged several times with drunken driving were improperly sealed.

Franklin County Common Pleas Judge John Connor, 62, was last charged Dec. 15 in Delray Beach, Fla. It was his second drunken driving charge in three years.

Judge Connor has acknowledged previous arrests. But few records have been found, leading officials to question where they've gone.

City Prosecutor Stephen McIntosh asked that a judge inspect sealed records involving Judge Connor. Franklin County Municipal Judge Charles Schneider set a hearing for Thursday.

"If there is probable cause to believe there are records, and that those records should not have been expunged, or there is some other basis for opening up any alleged records, the court will issue that order," Judge Schneider said.

Judge Connor was convicted of drunken driving in the Columbus suburb of Bexley in January 2000. He was ordered to serve three days in alcohol treatment and lost his driver's license for four months.

The Columbus Dispatch reported that public records and Judge Connor's sworn testimony in 1984 before a disciplinary panel of the Ohio Supreme Court show the Florida arrest was his eighth for a drunken-driving offense.

Taft appoints new public safety director

COLUMBUS - Gov. Bob Taft on Thursday appointed Kenneth Morckel, superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, to direct the Department of Public Safety.

Mr. Morckel, a 28-year patrol veteran, will start this month.

The public safety department employs more than 3,900 people and includes the patrol, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Emergency Management Agency.

Mr. Morckel replaces interim director Gary Joseph, who replaced Lt. Gov. Maureen O'Connor after her election to the Ohio Supreme Court in November.

The salary is being negotiated. He made $105,000 as patrol superintendent.

Suspect in rape case in custody in Michigan

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Authorities tracked down a man wanted for the alleged rape of a 9-year-old girl, and arrested him in Michigan on Thursday.

Armondo Gervacio, 37, was being held in the Livingston County Jail in Michigan, and was expected to undergo an extradition hearing in that county this morning, the Butler County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.

Butler County Area III Court, acting on a complaint from West Chester police, issued a warrant for Mr. Gervacio's arrest Dec. 18 in connection with the Oct. 1 rape.

Then the Butler sheriff's fugitive unit obtained information about Mr. Gervacio's location in Howell, Mich.

- Compiled from staff and wire reports