By Janice Morse
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HILLSBORO - Two of the four suspects accused of badly beating Robert E. Duffy, a mentally disabled man formerly of Hamilton County, victimized other disabled people, too, court records and police say.

Samuel M. Ross, 25, was fined $100 last year for disorderly conduct in a 2001 incident involving a 13-year-old boy with mental disabilities. Ross, who has served prison terms for forgery and theft, burned the teen with cigarette lighters, court documents say.

Mark J. Vaught, 22, was convicted of a misdemeanor last year for stealing about 10 compact discs from a mentally disabled man in Cedar Woods Apartments, where Duffy has lived.

Ross and Vaught are among four people accused of attacking Duffy, 29, formerly of Mount Healthy, and leaving him for dead. The other suspects: convicted burglar Jason R. Poor, 26, and Ross' 22-year-old sister, Hilda. All four remain at the Highland County Jail on felonious-assault charges.

A judge found enough evidence Thursday to send the cases to a Highland County grand jury.

Duffy, who is recovering at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, had been a long-time member of Fireball Ministry Church of God in Elmwood Place.

Maxine Masur of Northside, an assistant pastor, said the church felt a void since Duffy relocated to Highland County.

"He'd get that tambourine and play it - and he would shout and holler in praise of God. He was on fire for the Lord," Masur said. "We always looked up to him because he so loved to witness for the Lord. He would stop cars and tell people, 'We're having church tonight! C'mon in! Jesus loves you!' "

E-mail jmorse@enquirer.com