Checkpoints alert for drunken drivers

HAMILTON - Police will be trying to stop and arrest drunken drivers today at two sobriety checkpoints in undisclosed Butler County locations.

Lt. Michael Black, commander of the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Hamilton post, said officers will be stopping vehicles and looking for signs that show motorists may have been drinking alcohol or taking illegal drugs.

"We want to impress upon those who will be consuming alcohol to plan for a designated driver or make other arrangements," Black said.

The Ohio Department of Transportation and other local police agencies are assisting.

Goshen man at large after rape indictment

GOSHEN TWP. - A 39-year-old Goshen man was still at large Thursday, a day after a Clermont County grand jury indicted him on various sex charges against children, including rape, police said.

Daryl Vogt was indicted Wednesday on more than 40 counts of sexual crimes against five boys, all younger than 15, according to court records and a statement by Goshen police.

Vogt was indicted on one count of rape, 37 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, one count of gross sexual imposition and two counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.

"The only information we have is that he might be out of state, perhaps in Pittsburgh," said detective Jeff Lacey of the Goshen Township Police Department. Lacey would not release any other information about the specifics of the alleged crimes.

Police launched an investigation last month after receiving a complaint from the parents of one of the children.

According to police, Vogt befriended the children and their families to have the opportunity to be alone with the children.

Vogt provided the children with alcohol, police said. The sex crimes allegedly occurred at local motels between 2001 and 2004.

Anyone with information on Vogt's whereabouts is asked to call Goshen police at (513) 722-3200.

Newspaper editor charged in kidnapping

WILMINGTON - The editor of the Wilmington News Journal was arrested early Thursday and charged with kidnapping a woman, police said.

Jeff Hibbs was accused of forcing his way into the woman's car Wednesday afternoon and ordering her to drive to Sugar Grove Cemetery, police Chief Michael Hatten said in a news release.

Police said they had been notified at 3:13 p.m. that Hibbs was in the cemetery with a gun.

The woman, who was not identified, later told police that he prevented her from getting out of the car several times, but eventually she got free, Hatten said.

Hibbs was arrested at Cowan Lake State Park by Clinton County sheriff's deputies and was being held at the county jail, police Sgt. Bob Martin said.

Messages seeking comment were left for executives at Brown Publishing Co., which owns the News Journal.

Drug bust leads to green-card forgeries

DEERFIELD TWP. - Police said a drug bust led to three arrests - but the case also turned into an investigation of possible immigration document forgery.

Along with drugs, officials at a home here also found more than 50 blank Social Security cards and about 15 alien registration receipt cards - also known as green cards - that would allow immigrants to legally work in the United States.

Officers also found cameras, high-resolution printers, and a laminating machine that could be used to make the fake cards, said John Burke, in charge of the police drug task force in Warren and Clinton counties.

Officials from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Social Security Administration are also investigating. Wilver Rodriguez, 28, is charged with eight counts of trafficking in drugs and a count of drug possession. Rudolfo Nunez, 32, is charged with drug possession. And Raul Archundia-Herrara, 45, faces a charge of possession of criminal tools.

The three, all natives of Mexico, remain in the Warren County jail.

Warren Co. sheriff recovering from bypass

MONTGOMERY - Warren County Sheriff Tom Ariss was recovering after quadruple bypass surgery Thursday, said his chief deputy, Col. Del Everett.

Ariss was scheduled for the procedure at Bethesda North Hospital here after he had tests for chest discomfort, Everett said.

The sheriff could be released from the hospital in about five days, Everett said.

Ariss, 67, of Lebanon, has been sheriff since 1992. Ariss was stable after surgery, Everett said.

Rep. Cates plans fourth town meeting

HAMILTON - Ohio Rep. Gary Cates, R-West Chester Township, has set his fourth town hall meeting to listen to ideas on how officials might reduce teen traffic deaths.

The meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. Monday at Hamilton High School, 1165 Eaton Ave.

Parents, students and interested residents are encouraged to attend and offer their thoughts and suggestions on making roads safer for teen drivers, Cates said.

Four officials also will participate: Lt. Michael Black, commander of the Ohio State Highway Patrol's Hamilton post; Lt. Michael Lease, supervisor of the city police department's traffic division; David J. Niehaus, Butler County juvenile court judge, and Deputy Jim Mueller, Butler County Sheriff's traffic investigator.

A fifth town hall meeting is being planned for early June in Oxford.