By Janice Morse
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - Two Butler County Children Services workers face a pre-disciplinary hearing next week because of concerns about their investigation of a mother whose child later died.

It's the latest action in the case of Justin Johnson Jr., a 7-month-old boy who died in a Madison Township trailer fire on Feb. 4.

His mother, Aimee Leonard, 29, is accused of intentionally setting the fire and leaving the infant behind. She has been found competent to stand trial, but is undergoing a second mental evaluation.

Leonard had two other children removed from her care - and was under Children Services' investigation shortly before the fatal fire, authorities have said.

"The investigation that we did, was it thorough? Was it appropriate?... Did we follow state policy?" asked Tom Nowel, the agency's human resources director.

Nowel said he and others are investigating the actions of Leonard's caseworkers, who are scheduled to appear with their representatives in an informal hearing next Thursday.

Nowel declined to identify the caseworkers and said documents relating to the situation could not be released until the hearing officer makes his recommendations.

At least one of the employees is represented by a union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees' Ohio Council 8. Larry Watkins, staff representative for that union, said he thinks the other worker is non-union.

As for the union member Watkins will be representing, he said, "As far as I know, everything was done correctly on the part of the employee."

An attempt to obtain comment on behalf of the other worker was unsuccessful. Nowel did not know the name of that worker's attorney.

E-mail jmorse@enquirer.com