By Sharon Turco
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A Westwood man accused of driving his tractor-trailer onto a sidewalk where people were protesting the war in Iraq apologized to them during a hearing in Hamilton County Municipal Court Friday.

James Watters, 49, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor charges of aggravated menacing, in exchange for charges of reckless driving and inducing panic being dropped.

Judge Ethna Cooper sentenced Watters to do 100 hours of community service, and suspended an 18-month jail term. She also ordered Watters on probation for six months. Should he commit another crime within six months, the suspended jail term could be imposed.

Watters' plea came as a surprise, because he previously vowed to fight the charges, something he said his son's Marine battalion, which is in Kuwait, wanted him to do.

"I'm glad that he was remorseful," said Cincinnati Chief Deputy Prosecutor Charlie Rubenstein. "My biggest problem from day one was his apparent lack of concern for what he did."

Watters was arrested March 24 after he drove his semi on the sidewalk toward about 40 protesters who were gathered on the Ezzard Charles Drive overpass over Interstate 75.

His rig stopped about 10 feet shy of the group, which included a man in a wheelchair.

He says he never intended to hit any protesters, only to get people off the bridge.

"Having a message is one thing; his method was another," Rubenstein said.

Watters' son, Mark, is a sergeant with the 1st Marine Division, Communications.

E-mail sturco@enquirer.com