BY RACHEL MELCER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Three former Miami Township firefighters surrendered to Hamilton County sheriff's deputies this week after being indicted on charges of theft in office, arson, tampering with evidence and disrupting public service.
Kevin Hughes, 27, and 22-year-old Jason Hughes -- the sons of Miami Township Fire Chief James Hughes -- surrendered to authorities on Tuesday. Gregory Kyle Evans, 20, went to the sheriff's department Monday. They were all released on their own recognizance.
"I did what was right," former Capt. Kevin Hughes said.
His brother and Mr. Evans could not be reached for comment.
The three men were indicted Friday on a variety of charges that led to their resignation from the fire department roughly two months ago.
Kevin Hughes faces charges on four counts of theft in office, one count of tampering with records and one count of disrupting public service by allegedly calling in a false alarm to a neighboring fire department on April Fools Day.
Former Lt. Jason Hughes is charged with two counts of theft in office; and he and Mr. Evans are accused of setting fire to an abandoned mobile home.
Chief Hughes said the scandal has hurt morale within the fire department -- but its 45 volunteer and part-time salaried members are not allowing it to interfere with their work.
"The department has a job to do, and that's to protect the citizens of Miami Township. They're doing that," he said. "We're all coping with it . . . and want to get on with business as usual." As for their former colleagues, Chief Hughes said that within the department, "there is support there. They made mistakes, but a lot of people make mistakes."
Chief Hughes said it is too early to tell if the three men will go to trial or plead guilty.
"I hope that since they are cooperating, the prosecutor will take that into consideration," he said.
The maximum penalty for a charge of arson or disrupting public service is 18 months in jail; for tampering with records, one year. A conviction for theft in office carries a maximum prison term of one year, plus a prohibition from holding public office.
