By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A Hamilton County grand jury handed up a 12-count indictment Monday against a veteran WCPO-TV reporter accused of sexually abusing four teenage boys.

Stephen Hill, a veteran Channel 9 TV reporter, is brought into the Hamilton County Justice Center for his arraignment. Hill is accused of sexually abusing four teenage boys. (Tony Jones photo)

Stephen Hill, 45, was indicted on eight counts of sexual battery and four counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Each charge is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.

Hill, a former foster parent, could face up to 60 years in prison if convicted on all counts. Hill will be arraigned Thursday on the upgraded charges.

Ken Lawson, Hill's attorney, said he would consider filing for a change of venue. Lawson said information reported in the media might have tainted a potential Hamilton County jury pool.

Cases granted a change of venue are rare in Hamilton County.

"We are being pushed to that point," Lawson said.

Prosecutor Mike Allen said Monday that Hill had been a mentor to the victims - three of them are brothers and the fourth is their cousin.

Allen said Hill is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with the boys, who are now ages 16-18, between 2003 and January.

"Beginning in early 2003, the defendant is alleged to have told the boys that he knew a woman named Dawn who wanted to meet and have sex with them," Allen said. "He told them that Dawn insisted on remaining anonymous so that the boys would have to be blindfolded during the encounters and could not touch Dawn, but would have to simply submit to whatever Dawn did to them."

Allen said two of the boys became suspicious that Dawn was actually Hill and pulled off their blindfolds to catch him.

"The defendant may have given money to the boys to keep them quiet," Allen said.

Prosecutors also think Hill tried to destroy evidence when police came to arrest him at his Avondale home Feb. 27. Allen said a video camera was recovered and several tapes were found in a bucket filled with cleaning solution.

The solvent has been sent to the Hamilton County Coroner's lab for identification. Allen said authorities are optimistic they can restore some of the videotapes.

Allen said no other potential victims have come forward, but investigations continue.

Lawson declined to comment about the videotapes, audiotapes and any other evidence presented against his client Monday. He reminded the public that Hill should be presumed innocent.

Lawson also criticized the county prosecutor as attempting to try the case in the media. He questioned why county prosecutors did not pursue sex abuse charges against Catholic priests in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati with the same aggressiveness.

"There are two sides to every story," Lawson said during a news conference at his Elm Street office. "(Hill's) side will be stated on the courtroom floor. ... Once you hear all of the evidence, even if you don't know him, you will understand."

Bill Fee, vice president and general manager for WCPO-TV, said Hill remains on administrative leave and that the station would continue to review the facts and cooperate with investigators. Authorities have determined that none of Hill's alleged activities occurred on company time.

Hill, a reporter for WCPO-TV since 1989, remains at the Hamilton County jail on suicide watch. Bond was set at $250,000. He is also under a court order to have no contact with the alleged victims or their family members.

When police went to Hill's Avondale home to arrest him Feb. 27, he cut his wrists and his throat, police said, forcing officers to break down the door.

He pleaded not guilty Friday to eight counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

Lawson said his client has mentored dozens of youth over the years. He said if Hill was truly a pedophile "you think you'd see all kinds of kids coming out of the woodwork. But you don't."

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Email kaldridge@enquirer.com