Officer sentenced for inappropriate touching

A Cincinnati police officer was sentenced Tuesday to spend a year on probation for inappropriately touching somebody while in uniform and on the job, according to court records.

Steven Maddox, 26, was convicted on a charge of sexual imposition in Hamilton County Municipal Court in December. Judge Heather Russell also ordered Maddox to do six days of community service.

Maddox's police powers have been suspended, although he remains on desk duty, according to the Police Department.

Maddox's attorney said he would appeal. The sentence was delayed pending the appeal.

Once the appeal is complete, the department will review if disciplinary action should be taken, according to a spokeswoman.

Slaying suspect ruled not competent for trial

Michael Meridy Jr., who is accused of killing his grandfather last November, is not competent to stand trial, a Hamilton County Common Pleas Court judge determined Tuesday.

Judge John West ordered Meridy, 19, of Avondale, to get treatment at Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare, a locked-down treatment center in Columbus for up to 12 months.

Meridy, indicted on a charge of murder, will then be re-evaluated.

He is accused of beating his 78-year-old grandfather Edgar Pillow with a baseball bat and stabbing him at his College Hill home Nov. 16.

Meridy is being held in the Hamilton County Justice Center on $500,000 bail.

Trustee arraigned on felony weapons charge

MASON - Deerfield Township Trustee Lee Speidel was arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Mason Municipal Court on a felony concealed weapons charge.

Speidel, elected in November, did not enter a plea. His preliminary hearing was scheduled for Feb. 26.

The charge stems from an incident with four cable workers near Speidel's 70-acre farm. He thought the men were trespassing and had a pistol in a holster under his jacket when he confronted them, authorities have said.

If convicted, Speidel faces six to 18 months in jail and would not be able to hold public office.

Provident Bank in Montgomery robbed

MONTGOMERY - Police are investigating a Monday afternoon robbery at Provident Bank at 9749 Montgomery Road.

There were no injuries, but the robber escaped with an undetermined amount of cash, Montgomery police said.

A man entered the bank about 4 p.m., displayed a handgun and demanded money from a teller.

He fled the bank in an Oldsmobile Silhouette. The vehicle was recovered in a nearby parking lot a short time later, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Montgomery police at 985-1600.