Man admits guilt in ramming rage

        HAMILTON — A Harrison man has pleaded guilty in an incident in which a Butler County woman said he rammed her sport-utility vehicle about a dozen times while her two young children screamed in terror.

        After accepting his guilty plea Monday in Butler County Common Pleas Court, Judge Patricia Oney scheduled Daniel Walton, 32, for sentencing Nov. 18

        He faces two to eight years in prison for felonious assault and two counts of misdemeanor assault, said Assistant Prosecutor David Kash.

        The charges stem from a Nov. 10, 2001, incident on Howards Creek Road in Morgan Township.

        Erica Harp, 29, of Morgan Township, and her children, Cody, 3, and Caitlynn, 8, were inside a Mercury Mountaineer that was struck multiple times in the rear and at least once on the side by a Ford Tempo that Mr. Walton was driving.

        The drivers were previously unacquainted, Mr. Kash said, and Ms. Harp had merely passed his stopped vehicle.

        The incident occurred in front of several witnesses who were attending a neighborhood event, Mr. Kash said. It ended after Mr. Walton's vehicle crashed into a tree. Ms. Harp and her children were frightened but unhurt, Mr. Kash said.

        Ms. Harp's vehicle sustained $5,310 in damage, Mr. Kash said.

Livingston released after contempt finding

        Nathaniel Livingston Jr., , a leader of the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati, was released in lieu of bond Tuesday after a Hamilton County magistrate held him in contempt of court for failing to appear at a child-support hearing.

        Mr. Livingston, one of the leaders of the boycott against the city of Cincinnati, was scheduled to appear before Magistrate Tina Ernst, court officials said.

        When he failed to appear, the magistrate ordered a $1,500 warrant for the 33-year-old Avondale man's arrest.

        Reached Tuesday evening, Mr. Livingston said he was unaware of the warrant and didn't realize his upcoming hearing was Tuesday.

        “I was interviewing for a job,” he said, adding that he is unemployed and has fallen behind in child-support payments.

        Mr. Livingston is also free on an $80,000 appeal bond for a misdemeanor conviction of criminal trespass for interrupting Mayor Charlie Luken's speech at the 2000 Oktoberfest celebration.

Hyde Park man pleads guilty in death

        A 27-year-old Hyde Park man pleaded guilty Tuesday to aggravated vehicular homicide in the May 4 death of a mother of two at a Hyde Park intersection.

        Eric Tullis also pleaded guilty to failure to stop after an accident and tampering with evidence.He will be sentenced Nov. 4 before Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Nurre.

        Mr. Tullis admitted running a red light at the intersection of Erie and Paxton avenues and striking a car driven by Terri Heekin Murrie. Ms. Murrie died as a result of the crash, which prosecutors said was alcohol-related. He was ordered to forfeit his passport pending sentencing. He remains free in lieu of $75,000 bond.

Evanston man gets 15-to-life for murder

        A 35-year-old Evanston man was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison Tuesday for the death of a Springfield Township woman whose body was found in his car.

        Appearing before Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Nurre, Christopher Echols pleaded guilty to murder for the death of Melissa June Wallace, 33.

        Prosecutors said Mr. Echols beat, stabbed and strangled Ms. Wallace on June 4 and then drove around with her body in the car. At one point, he attempted to set his car on fire but extinguished the flames. He was later arrested in Woodlawn.

Commissioner Dorsey honored by chamber

        BATAVIA — The Clermont County Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday a new award to public servants at its annual Pacesetter Award ceremony.

        The honor, named after long-time county Commissioner Martha Dorsey, will be awarded next year, but this year the chamber will honor Mrs. Dorsey for her service.

        Mrs. Dorsey, a Republican, took office in 1987 and served four terms. Her term expires at the end of this year, and she is not running for re-election.

        “The new award will be to recognize those who make a difference in our county, and what better model can we have than Martha Dorsey?” said Denny Begue, president of the chamber.

        He credited Mrs. Dorsey for her work in improving the infrastructure of the county, partnering with the private sector to spur economic growth and working to get ahead of the explosive growth the county has seen in her time as commissioner.

        She will be honored at the chamber's annual event Nov. 14.

Demolition permit OK'd for Road House

        MONTGOMERY — Bulldozers are expected to raze Chester's Road House, once owned by the well-known Comisar family, within the next few days.

        A demolition permit was granted Tuesday; and Norm Barron, attorney for the new owners, said the building at 9678 Montgomery Road is too damaged to repair for his client's future plans.

        The Joseph family, which operates several auto dealerships along Montgomery Road, bought the property from the Comisars in the spring.

        Mr. Barron said the Josephs are leaning toward building offices or a new auto dealership on the property. No definite plans have been made.

        Since the spring, the city's preservationists lost a fight to save the building. The Josephs, though, have saved an elevator, lighting fixtures and stained glass from Chester's, which Mr. Barron said most likely will be used in a future development.

Police union drops lawsuit over reform

        Cincinnati's police union has withdrawn its lawsuit alleging that Issue 5 violated its contract.

        Because the Fraternal Order of Police — so far — lacks a person who has been “aggrieved” by use of the civil-service reform measure approved by voters last year, the union withdrew the suit, President Roger Webster said Tuesday. It could be refiled, he said.

        For now, the union will continue to pursue, through its grievance and arbitration process, getting Capt. Stephen Gregoire appointed to the assistant chief's position to be vacated when Lt. Col. Ron Twitty's retirement becomes effective. City Manager Valerie Lemmie says Issue 5 allows her to do a nationwide search for Col. Twitty's replacement and she plans to do that.

        The FOP says Capt. Gregoire should get the job because he's next on the current promotion list.

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