Compiled from staff and wire reports

Man convicted in stun-gun attack

HAMILTON -A Butler County jury on Tuesday convicted a Monroe man of four charges in connection with a stun-gun attack on his ex-girlfriend in January.

The Common Pleas Court jury found Robert "Joe" Rager, 35, guilty as charged on three felonies: aggravated burglary, kidnapping and felonious assault. They also found him guilty of abduction, a lesser felony charge.

Judge Michael J. Sage set sentencing for May 14. Prosecutors say Rager faces up to 15 years in prison for the convictions on two first-degree felonies, a second-degree felony and a third-degree felony.

"I'm just glad it's over," said Lisa Dunn, 38, wiping tears from her eyes with a tissue outside the courtroom. Dunn testified that Rager used the stun gun on her up to 30 times - and he pressed it against her skin for prolonged periods, leaving five scars still visible.

"I'm proud of the jury they didn't buy the argument that this lady wasn't substantially harmed," said Assistant Prosecutor Craig Hedric. "If you get him with that thing 30 times, that's substantial harm" he said. "I hope this verdict will help her continue the healing process."

Cincinnati water is federally certified

Cincinnati drinking water meets or exceeds state and national health standards, according to Greater Cincinnati Water Works Safe Drinking Water Report 2002.

Customers will receive the report with water bills during June. It was prepared to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's drinking water regulations for consumer confidence.

The report can be read online or paper copies can be requested by calling 591-7972.

Twitty case papers to be released today

The Hamilton County prosecutor today will release hundreds of pages of documents related to the misdemeanor charges against former Cincinnati Police Assistant Chief Ron Twitty.

The documents could reveal whether Twitty lied about how his city-issued Fort Taurus was damaged in a mysterious accident last year in Bond Hill.

Twitty was charged with attempted obstruction of official business, pleaded no contest and was convicted of attempted obstruction Sept. 10. At that time he agreed to retire from the force. He also was fined $1.

Prosecutor Mike Allen is releasing the documents after several local media outlets - including the Enquirer - requested them.

By law, today is the first day Allen could release them. Twitty's time to appeal the case is now past.

Twitty has maintained his innocence, saying he took the plea for the good of "my family and the community."

Journal covers UC study on Atkins diet

A University of Cincinnati study that found surprising benefits last fall to the controversial, low-carbohydrate Atkins diet has been published in a national medical journal.

The study of 53 obese women - announced in November - reported that following the Atkins diet for six months produced faster weight loss than a standard low-calorie diet and did not result in predicted harmful effects such as increased blood pressure or cholesterol.

Details are published in the April edition of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

UC scientists and others have said more study is needed to measure potential long-term side effects and to see if the results hold up when tested in larger numbers of dieters.

Burglar of chief's home gets 10 years

David Blackman, who broke into Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher's Price Hill apartment Dec. 20, will spend the next 10 years in prison.

Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge David Davis sentenced Blackman, of Price Hill, to prison on three counts of burglary, two counts of felonious assault and theft.

Part of Blackman's sentence stemmed from his role in an attack on Delhi Township Detective James Wergers.

Police say when Wergers tried to arrest Blackman Dec. 30, Blackman struggled and called out for Emmett Pringle Jr., 21, of Price Hill, to help. Pringle, police said, hit Wergers with a brick.

Wergers was briefly knocked unconscious and needed 13 stitches to close a head wound, according to court records.

Pringle pleaded guilty to charges of felonious assault and receiving stolen property March 17 and is to be sentenced April 24.