The 12th District Court of Appeals has upheld the rape conviction of a Hamilton man. 64 year old Thomas Lee Marshall was convicted of raping and sexually abusing a young girl from 2001 to 2006. He is serving a life sentence with parole after 10 years. He is scheduled to be released from prison in May of 2032. The victim had kept a diary where she recounted instances of abuse at the hands of Marshall.

The Butler County General Health District says a suspected case of meningococcal disease has been diagnosed in a Miami University student in Oxford. The agency is trying to find anyone who may have been in close contact with the student, and are offering them antibiotics for the rare disease. Meningococcal disease can lead to cases of meningitis or septicemia. Both could be deadly. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting, and a purple rash. If you have any questions, contact the General Health District at (513) 863-1770.

More Information: 
Butler County General Health District Release

An early morning crash involving a tractor trailer was one of two accidents that caused major delays for motorists on southbound Interstate 75 in eastern Butler County Friday. The semi ended up on its side off the right side of the road, just south of the Allen Road overpass around 4:30am. The right two lanes of southbound 75 were closed for five hours as crews worked to get the truck back on its tires. Two people were taken to UC Hospital West Chester for facial injuries. A later crash with injuries on southbound 75 at Cincinnati-Dayton Road caused traffic to back up all the way to the interchange with Ohio 129.

(Photo Courtesy: ODOT)

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones' recent warnings about America being vulnerable to terrorist attacks has struck a chord with national conservative media. Sheriff Jones has been a guest on a number of national networks and shows the past couple of weeks, including Fox News Channel, Newsmax, One America Network, and Blaze TV. Jones called a news conference after a National Association of Sheriff's meeting with FBI Director Christopher Wray, who told the group it wasn't a matter of if, but when America would be hit with a large scale terrorist attack. Jones says the attack could take many forms, including a cyber assault, which could cripple the power grid and other infrastructure. Jones is offering classes to the public on preparing for an emergency. The first round of classes was booked solid within an hour of going on line.

West Chester and Butler County leaders will help cut the ribbon during ceremonies Wednesday marking the grand opening of the new Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World location in West Chester.  Nine-time "Angler of the Year" and TV personality Roland Martin, and TV host Jimmy Houston will be among the celebrities taking part in the Evening for Conservation which follows the 6:00pm ribbon cutting. The store will open for normal business hours on Thursday. The 125,000 square foot store will consolidate the Cincinnati Mills location, which closed January 13th, and the Cabela's near Liberty Center, which will close after Saturday, February 24th.

The Ohio Supreme Court has disbarred a
Hamilton attorney for misleading clients, misusing their settlement funds, and neglecting their cases. Dennis Adams has been ordered to pay more than $25,000 dollars in restitution to three clients who were harmed by his actions. Adams pleaded guilty to a charge of theft by deception, and was sentenced to five years of community control late last year in Butler County Common Pleas Court. Adams was a longtime public defender for the county until his legal issues arose.

(Photo: Ohio Supreme Court)
 

If you want to vote in the March 19th primary
and haven't registered yet, you have until 9:00pm Tuesday, March 20th to get it done. The Butler County Board of Elections was open extended hours for last-minute registrations. Early voting was due to begin Wednesday, March 21 in the primaries for President, U.S. Senate, statehouse, and county races. The Board of Elections at 1802 Princeton Road will be open the following hours for early voting:

February 21st-23rd: 8:00am-5:00pm

February 26th-March 1st: 8:00am-5:00pm
March 4th-March 8th: 8:00am-5:00pm
Saturday March 9th, 8:00am-4:00pm
Monday March 11th: 7:30am-7:30pm
Tuesday March 12th:7:30am-8:30pm
March 13th-March 15th: 7:30am-7:30pm
Saturday March 16th: 8:00am-4:00pm
Sunday March 17th: 1:00pm-5:00pm

Sunday March 19th: Election Day
 

A West Chester man is due to appear in court 
in connection with yesterday's incident at the Walmart on Cincinnati-Dayton Road. 26yo Joshua Knowlton is accused of stealing a machete and a Modelo beer from the store, then firing a couple of shots into the ground behind the store. The gunfire triggered a massive police search that ended with Knowlton's arrest at his Summerhill Drive address.