From Mark Tekulve:
As the newly elected prosecutor for Clermont County, I want to first thank the voters of Clermont County for the opportunity to serve as the Prosecutor. It is the highest honor of my career.
The job of the prosecutor isn’t simply about putting away the bad guys, prosecutors have a duty to do justice. Additionally, the Civil Division of my office provides many varied legal services for all Clermont County elected officials and their departments. We also provide legal services for other County offices such as the Board of Elections, Public Health, the Public Library Board, the Veterans Service Commission, the County Park District, and all Non-Home Rule Township Trustees and their departments.
Fortunately, I have a talented team of attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff who come to work every day focused on serving the people of Clermont County. I could not be prouder to work with these great professionals.
Additionally, I’ve brought in a few new members to the office. David Gast is the chief of our misdemeanor criminal division; Lara Baron-Allen is our new felony chief; Brian Shrive and Joe Mooney join the civil division; and Stephanie Ross is my chief administrator.
Now for some sobering numbers. In just the first few months of 2021, we have filed 1,253 new misdemeanor criminal cases and 296 felony cases. Aggravated possession of drugs is the primary charge on approximately one-third of the felony cases. The opioid epidemic has not ended here in Clermont County and more must be done.
Our office has reinstituted the misdemeanor diversion program. This program allows first-time low level offenders to participate in education and community service programs in lieu of a conviction. This will allow the offender to understand the consequences of his or her actions without a permanent criminal record that may later interfere with job opportunities. Our goal is to improve the community. Sometimes that means jail time, but other times that means an approach that allows people to learn and grow and move on toward being a productive member of the community. In every case, our prosecutors have the resources and ability to determine the appropriate course of action.
My office also provides victim advocates to help comfort victims of crime and explain their rights. Our victim advocate program is going strong. Stephanie Ross continues to shine, finding grants and other resources to allow us to provide services to victims of crime at their critical time of need. We are proud to partner with the YWCA in those efforts.
In the coming months you will see me and my team out engaging in educational and outreach efforts. If your school, church, or other organization would like to hear from me or my team, please contact the Prosecutor’s Office at 732-7313 or via email at prosoffice@clermontcountyohio.gov.
On behalf of myself and the entire prosecutor’s office, thank you for the opportunity to serve.
BATAVIA, OH — Mark J. Tekulve took office as the newly elected Clermont County Prosecutor on Jan. 4. To implement an office structure dedicated to the effective and thorough pursuit of justice on behalf of the citizens of Clermont County, and to continue to provide excellent legal representation to the Board of County Commissioners, county elected officials and townships, Tekulve announces these new personnel assignments within the Clermont County Prosecutor’s Office.
Lara Baron Allen has been named the First Assistant in the Common Pleas Division. Allen will assist with the operation of the felony division, supervise the prosecution of our felony cases, will act as Lead Prosecutor on major felony cases, and will serve as the initial point of contact for law enforcement with any questions on felony crimes, investigations, searches, etc.
David M. Gast has been named the First Assistant in the Municipal Division. Gast will be responsible for the operation of the Municipal Division of the Prosecutor’s Office, will train all new Assistant Prosecutors, and will serve as the initial point of contact for law enforcement with charging questions on misdemeanor cases, vehicular fatalities, K-9 issues, etc.
Carol A. Rowe has been assigned responsibility for the day to day operations of the Grand Jury. Rowe will be responsible for reviewing all cases submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office for indictment consideration, and scheduling and presenting potential felony cases to the Grand Jury.
Brian C. Shrive and Joseph Mooney have joined the Civil Division. Both Shrive and Mooney are talented, experienced and valued attorneys who will assist Ernie Ramos, First Assistant in the Civil Division, in continuing to provide outstanding legal representation to the County Commissioners, county elected officials, townships, etc.
Stephanie Ross has been named the First Assistant in charge of Administrative & Fiscal Operations. Ross will be responsible for the day to day administrative operations for the Prosecutor’s Office, and can be contacted at the felony office. Additionally, she will assist with Grand Jury and will continue her role as Director of the Victim Advocate Program.
Detective Bill Brewer
BATAVIA, Ohio (Feb. 6, 2019) – All Clermont County courts and many county offices will be closed Friday, Feb. 8, to allow employees to attend, view or participate in services for Sheriff’s Detective Bill Brewer, who lost his life in the line of duty on Feb. 2.
CLOSED
Sheriff’s Office: Administrative offices close at noon Thursday and all day Friday.
Common Pleas Court: Closes at 2 p.m. Thursday and all day Friday. This also includes Probation, Law Library, and Court Services.
Juvenile Court/Probate Court: Closes at 2 p.m. Thursday and all day Friday.
Prosecutor’s Office: Closes at 2 p.m. Thursday and all day Friday.
Domestic Relations Court: Closes at 2 p.m. Thursday and all day Friday. All hearings will be scheduled to the next available time.
Board of County Commissioners’ office, and departments including Water Resources Administration Building, Building Inspection, Permit Central, Job & Family Services, OhioMeansJobs/Clermont County, and Department of Community & Economic Development: Closed Friday.
Municipal Court: Closed Friday. Those who have an arraignment scheduled for Friday will be sent a new court date. They can also check the Clermontclerk.org website for updated information.
Common Pleas Clerk’s Office, Domestic Relations Clerk and all auto title offices: Closed Friday.
Public Defender’s Office: Closed Friday.
Auditor’s Office: Closed Friday.
Recorder’s Office: Closed Friday.
Engineer’s Office: Closed Friday.
Public Health: Closed Friday.
Coroner’s Office: Closed Friday; on call at 513.543.0129.
OPEN
Some county offices will be open, including the Treasurer’s Office, which is accepting payments for first-half property taxes, which are due Feb. 13. The Municipal Clerk of Court Office will be open Friday. The Board of Elections office will be open Friday.
Bus service in Clermont County, including Dial-A-Ride, will operate normally.
The county website, www.clermontcountyohio.gov, has separate pages for each county office, including how to contact them. Check there if you have questions on whether an office is open or closed.
Services for Detective Brewer are as follows:
Family and friends are invited to a public visitation from 4-8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 7, at Mount Carmel Christian Church, 4110 Bach Buxton Rd, Batavia, OH 45103, under the direction of E.C. Nurre Funeral Home in Amelia. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Interment will follow at Pierce Township Cemetery.
BATAVIA, Ohio (April 27, 2018) — In a Clermont County Common Pleas Court appearance on April 25, Mary Ann Belt, former executive assistant in Water Resources Department (WRD), agreed to repay Clermont County $10,841.65 for gift cards and other items inappropriately charged to a Lowe’s credit card.
Ms. Belt will also plead guilty to a fifth degree felony theft, according to Assistant County Prosecutor Katie Terpstra. The case has been continued until June 4.
Here is a timeline of events:
Ms. Belt was an executive assistant in the water department in 2016-17. Among her responsibilities was paying some of the water department invoices. Previously, she had worked in customer service in the same department since 2012.
Water Resources Director Lyle Bloom was notified on Oct. 19, 2017, by Duke Energy that several of the water department’s accounts with Duke were past due. The Clermont County Auditor’s Office had also alerted the water department that a number of late payments had been made to Duke.
Mr. Bloom investigated the past-due bills and found that Clermont County had paid approximately $10,000 in late payment charges over 2016-17 to Duke Energy. These particular accounts were the responsibility of Ms. Belt.
Other vendors she was responsible for were also paid late. Duke Energy was the only vendor that charged a late fee.
Ms. Belt had a disciplinary hearing, and was terminated by the county on Nov. 15, 2017, for failing to discharge her responsibilities correctly.
During this time, the Auditor’s Office and the water department worked together to ensure that all accounts that were past due were paid and that vendors would be paid in a timely manner going forward.
After her termination, Ms. Belt’s emails were forwarded to two other executive assistants in the department who assumed her responsibilities.
They noticed that a county credit card account at Lowe’s that was in Ms. Belt’s name had a number of gift cards on it. Further investigation found that she had opened up online a Lowe’s credit card for herself while she was opening cards for three water treatment employees.
A check of previous statements found that a total of $10,841.65 had been charged to Lowe’s that appeared to be for personal use, including gift cards.
In Clermont County, all spending on credit cards must be approved by a supervisor who sees an invoice. It appeared that Ms. Belt falsified invoices, or put in invoices twice.
Shortly after Ms. Belt was terminated, the county asked the Sheriff’s Office to investigate this matter. The results of the investigation were turned over to the Prosecutor’s Office. Ms. Belt was charged with felony theft and was indicted on Feb. 6, 2018.
Prior to the indictment, the office of the State Auditor began its annual audit of Clermont County. At the time, the office of the County Auditor informed the State Auditor that there was a case under investigation that involved possible misuse of county funds. In a separate meeting, the Auditor and Prosecutor’s Office met with the State Auditor’s representatives on this matter.
Mr. Bloom has instituted new practices in his department. All Lowe’s cards have been pulled. Supervisors must now match the hard-copy invoice to the screen invoice before approving.
In addition, most departments and offices in the county now use procurement cards, which have limits on the kinds of transactions, the number of transactions, and the monetary amount of transactions that can be made.
The investigation involved many county offices – Water Resources, the Office of Management and Budget, the County Auditor, the Sheriff’s Office and the Prosecutor’s Office – who worked diligently to address the matter.
“We took prompt action to terminate Ms. Belt’s employment once we discovered the pattern of late payments,” said County Administrator Tom Eigel. “And as soon as we detected other irregularities, we turned that information over to the Sheriff’s Office. We’re pleased that Ms. Belt has agreed to pay Clermont County restitution. I am confident that the practices instituted will help prevent a similar issue in the future.”
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BATAVIA, Ohio (March 23, 2018) – in 2017, victim advocates in Clermont County came to the aid of 2,500 victims of crime in the county.
This included 344 cases of adult assault, 342 cases of burglary, 110 cases of child abuse, 723 cases of domestic violence, and 695 cases of theft or financial crime. And there were many more.
Stephanie Ross, program director of the Victim Advocate Program for the Prosecutor’s Office, relayed these numbers to Clermont County Commissioners on March 21 during weekly Session. Commissioners proclaimed the week of April 8-14 National Crime Victims Week in Clermont County.
Working out of the Prosecutor’s Office, victim advocates help their clients navigate a complex court system. They refer victims to social service agencies. They help victims get compensation.
Advocates can be a voice for victims when the victims cannot find their own voice.
To honor Crime Victims Week, a luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m on Thursday, April 12, at Pattison Park Lodge, 2228 US 50, Batavia.
This year, the lunch will feature speakers Darren Miller, chief assistant prosecutor; Chief Deputy Chris Stratton of the Clermont Sheriff’s Office, and Jennifer, a survivor of domestic violence.
This community event is open to the public. Those who would like to attend should RSVP Ross at 513.732.7263 or email her at sross@clermontcountyohio.gov.
Read more about the Victim Assistance Office.
Read more about the YWCA House of Peace.
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BATAVIA, Ohio (Nov. 2, 2017) — Among the many missions of the YWCA in Greater Cincinnati is to empower women and help families. One crucial way the organization does that is by offering victims of domestic violence help – and hope.
In Clermont County, the YWCA operates the House of Peace – a secure location for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. Since the beginning of 2017, the House of Peace has sheltered 75 women and 41 children, said Shana Cronican, House of Peace manager, who has worked there for two years. This year the staff has fielded almost 2,000 calls for assistance, and helped 500 of them.
The House of Peace has been a mainstay in Clermont County since 1981, although not always in the same location. It is funded through federal grants, grants from the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, and private donations. It can house up to 14 individuals at one time, Cronican said.
A recent proclamation from the Clermont County Commissioners declaring October Domestic Violence Awareness Month cited studies showing that 1 in every 3 teenagers, 1 in every 4 women, and 1 in every 6 men will experience domestic violence during their lifetime. Approximately 15.5 million children in the United States are exposed to domestic violence every year.
“Domestic violence occurs all the time,” Cronican said. “Every nine seconds of every day.”
The House of Peace can offer a safe space from that, Cronican said, and the tools to help victims escape their situation.
The YWCA staffs a hotline 24/7 – 513.753.7281 – and calling that is often the first step toward being admitted to the House of Peace, or another shelter. But those who call may have other needs, not necessarily shelter. “We are well equipped at the Y to connect any caller to community resources,” Cronican said.
When a woman enters the House of Peace, she enters more than a home. She enters a program to provide her with the tools she’ll need to bring some stability and safety to herself and her family. The average stay is 40 days and every program is tailored to the individual, Cronican said.
“Most of them need housing,” she said. “Some may need to gain employment. Some will have a child starting at a new school. They’ll need counseling. But our first efforts go toward safety and coping skills, and that often means making sure they have new housing.”
The YWCA has a Transitional Living Program that can provide rental assistance, she said.
The House of Peace staff works closely with the Clermont County Prosecutor’s Office and its Victim Assistance Office. “We have an incredible relationship with the Prosecutor’s Office,” Cronican said. “The YWCA also has court advocates who will work with the victims of domestic violence to help them get a civil protection order against their abuser.”
Cronican, who at one time taught women’s studies at a university, is herself a survivor of childhood trauma. She finds rewards in working on the front lines against domestic violence. “This work helps me. It is so meaningful. We are creating social change.”
The House of Peace offers assistance to victims of domestic violence who live in Clermont, Brown and Adams counties. It accepts donations at any time. It keeps a wish list for currently needed items on its website, which also includes a link to its Amazon wish list. http://www.ywcacincinnati.org/site/c.biINIZNKKjK0F/b.8108335/k.F679/Wish_List.htm
Donations can be made to: The YWCA Greater Cincinnati House of Peace online at ywcacincinnati.org, or mailed to 898 Walnut Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Please call Shana Cronican at 513.753.7282 for more details.
Photo: Staff members from the Greater Cincinnati YWCA and the Clermont County Prosecutor’s Office and, in back row, Commissioners David Uible, David Painter and Ed Humphrey.
BATAVIA, Ohio (March 3, 2017) – Clermont County’s 4th annual National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. on April 6 at Pattison Park Lodge, 2228 US 50, Batavia. The public is invited to attend.
The lunch is sponsored by the Clermont County Advocacy Alliance on Violence and the Clermont County Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Team.
Speakers will include Scott O’Reilly, an assistant county prosecutor who specializes in child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault cases, as well as two survivors of domestic violence.
“We began this luncheon four years ago to shine a light on crime victims in Clermont County and to bring awareness to the resources that were available to help them,” said Stephanie Ross, Director of the Victim Assistance Office within the Prosecutor’s Office. Her office assisted more than 2,300 victims of crime in 2016.
The members of the Advocacy Alliance include the Prosecutors Office, YWCA, Mental Health & Recovery Board, Juvenile Court, Sheriff’s Office, Child Focus, and Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services.
For more information, contact Ross at sross@clermontcountyohio.gov.
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Judge James A. Shriver
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Sept. 21, 2016) — Judge James A. Shriver of Clermont County Common Pleas Probate/Juvenile Division was elected last week Chair of the Ohio Judicial Conference. He begins his two-year term on Oct. 1.
“I am both humbled and honored that the judges of Ohio have placed their confidence and trust in me to lead the Ohio Judicial Conference in this time of a new beginning,” Judge Shriver said.
“Public confidence in our judicial system is essential to maintaining an orderly democratic society. I look forward to working closely with judges, courts and other entities to ensure the fair, effective and efficient administration of justice. Our organization must encourage and facilitate initiatives at the state and local level to enhance public knowledge about the justice system and the role of courts. We will endeavor to further improve the quality of justice for all Ohio citizens.”
Judge Shriver has been a longtime active member of the Ohio Judicial Conference, which includes all 722 Ohio judges. He has served on the Specialized Dockets Committee, the Criminal Law and Procedure Committee, the Committee on Community Corrections, the Juvenile Law and Procedure Committee and the Probate Law and Procedure Committee. Judge Shriver co-chairs the Court Administration Committee.
The Ohio Judicial Conference, a state entity in the judicial branch of government, works to improve the administration of justice. Judge Shriver will help lead the work of over 20 committees of judges active in all areas from judicial ethics, public confidence and community outreach.
Before being appointed by Gov. John Kasich to the Juvenile/Probate Division in July 2013, Judge Shriver served 18 years as a Municipal Court judge in Clermont County. During his 21 years of service on the bench, Judge Shriver has pioneered many innovative programs designed to improve the critical thinking of offenders, reduce the rate of recidivism, and provide meaningful alternatives to jail time for many offenders. Judge Shriver began Ohio’s first OVI (Operating a Vehicle while Impaired) Court in 2005. It has become a model for other OVI dockets throughout Ohio and has been recognized numerous times.
Judge Shriver currently operates a Family Dependency Treatment Court to address the needs of drug addicts whose children have been removed and placed in the temporary custody of Clermont County Children’s Protective Services.
Judge Shriver has been a strong advocate of the victims of crime. He began his legal career as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Clermont County, where he established the Victim Assistance and Mediation Program for misdemeanor cases. Recognizing that individuals and businesses can both be victims of crime, he developed and implemented a check resolution service in addressing bad check writers. Over a period of 6 years, the program collected more than $1.9 million for crime victims.
He also developed a felony crime victim assistance program, which has served more than 5,000 victims. The late Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer of the Ohio Supreme Court awarded a Certificate of Exemplary Services to Judge Shriver in recognition of his exceptional commitment to Ohio crime victims.
Community involvement is an important part of Judge Shriver’s judicial service. He served as a member of the Clermont County Youth Services Advisory Board for 11 years. He also served as a member of the Clermont County Child Abuse and Neglect Advisory Board for 10 years. Judge Shriver is the present Chair of the Commission on Specialized Dockets of the Ohio Supreme Court. He is the Past Chair of the Criminal Justice Committee and the Traffic Law Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association, and a Past President of the Association of Municipal/County Judges of Ohio. He is the current President of the Mission Foundation of the Ohio River Valley District of the United Methodist Church.
Judge Shriver has received the President’s Award for Judicial Excellence from the Association of Municipal/County Judges of Ohio, presented in recognition of outstanding and meritorious service as a municipal court judge. The Ohio Justice Alliance for Community Corrections awarded Judge Shriver the distinguished C.J. McLin Award given to an elected official who has worked towards the improvement of community corrections in Ohio.
Other recognitions include the Wasserman Champion Award given for championing innovative services for consumers of mental health, alcohol and drug addiction services, the Safety and Justice Award from Clermont 20/20 and an award from the Clermont County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force.
Contact:
Louis Tobin
Deputy Director
Louis.tobin@sc.ohio.gov
614.387.9750
Commissioner Bob Proud, Victim Advocate Stephanie Ross, Victim Advocate Christy Panzarella, Commissioner David Uible.
BATAVIA, Ohio (April 8, 2016) – More than 4,000 victims of crime were helped last year by Clermont County’s Victim Assistance Office.
Working out of the Prosecutor’s Office, victim advocates help their clients navigate a complex court system. They refer victims to social service agencies. They help victims get compensation. Advocates can be a voice for victims when the victims cannot find their own voice.
“We’ve become an integral part of the court system,” says Stephanie Ross, Director of the Victim Assistance Office and a victim’s advocate for 12 years. “According to Section 2930 in the Ohio Revised Code, all victims of crime in Ohio have a right to be heard. Our judges always want to hear from a victim, and are very open to the idea of advocates.” Next week is National Crime Victims’ Week (April 10-16) and Ross took a few minutes to discuss her office and its mission.
Clermont County established the Victim Assistance Office in 1987, a few years after President Reagan signed the Victims of Crime Act. Currently, the office employs five advocates. Two work at Common Pleas Court, where felonies are tried. The others work at Municipal Court and Juvenile Court. The positions are primarily funded through federal and state grants, and Clermont County provides some matching funds. The office prides itself on its professionalism. All the advocates participate in 40 hours of training every two years, and several have state and national credentials.
“Victims are referred to us by law enforcement,” Ross said. “Our main goal is to provide assistance throughout the justice system. We accompany them to court. We tell them what’s going on, w
hat’s happening at this time. We can explain legal terms to them, like a pretrial motion or a motion to suppress.”
For the funding year that ran Oct. 1, 2014-Sept. 30, 2015, the Victim Assistance Office worked with 4,326 clients. Of those, 618 were domestic violence cases, 280 were child sexual abuse, and 311 were assault. Forty-seven were loved ones of homicide victims.
How the advocates help their clients is determined by the crime, said Ross. If the charge is domestic violence, for example, the advocates may refer the client to the YWCA’s House of Peace shelter in Clermont County. The client may want to change the locks at her home, and the advocates can help the client get funds to do that. They can help with a civil protection order. If the offender is being transferred or released, the advocate will let the victim know.
Advocates will work with Clermont County Children’s Protective Services if the crime involves children, or calm the fears of victims if CPS has to make a house call.
“We are not therapists. We’re not social workers. We’re not attorneys,” says Ross. “We’re here to help guide you through a traumatic event. This means different things for different people.
“Hopefully by the time the case ends, you will be armed with lots of information,” she added.
Ross is passionate about her job, and the program. “It can be difficult at times,” she says, “but actually seeing someone get justice is pretty rewarding. Sometimes I will meet someone who says ‘You helped my neighbor’ or ‘You helped me three years ago.’
“I think sometimes people don’t know the words they want to say. I’m able to understand their position. It’s important for them to have a voice, even if it’s a voice they don’t always use.”
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