In a letter attorney general's office released Monday, Special Prosecutor David Kelley asks the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification's criminal intelligence unit "for your assistance in the investigation of alleged illegal conduct by Judge (Dallas) Powers" of Warren County Court.

County Commissioner Pat South said: "That sounds like very strong wording."

She acknowledged that, in the past three weeks, the judge has faced a trio of sexual harassment complaints as well as concerns about two other situations: 400 hours of overtime paid to one female court employee, and the low bond Powers set for a relative of that employee after the relative was arrested on drug charges this summer.

Kelley's letter, dated Wednesday and stamped as received in the attorney general's office on Friday, advises state investigators to contact Adams County investigator Kenny Dick. He was out of the office Monday and couldn't be reached for comment.

Powers, 70, has declined to comment.

Last week, he relinquished his administrative duties to Judge James Heath, and officials said Powers agreed to stay away from the court while the investigation proceeds. Powers' lawyer, John D. Smith, did not immediately return a phone call Monday.

Bob Beasley, spokesman for Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro, couldn't say how long the investigation might last.

---

E-mail jmorse@enquirer.com