Ohio’s private, nonprofit job-creation agency is doubling its staff and expanding its outreach efforts now that it’s gone to market with a $1.5 billion bond sale.
President and Chief Investment Officer John Minor told board members Wednesday that JobsOhio has been working with a “skeleton crew.” That’s largely because of a legal challenge to the constitutionality of its funding structure.
In January, JobsOhio proceeded to sell bonds backed by future liquor proceeds despite the lack of resolution. Proceeds will help fund additions to its 22-member staff, including managing directors overseeing biohealth and agribusiness.
Minor reported job creation and retention in targeted industries fell from about 83,000 jobs paying $4.7 billion in 2011 to about 76,000 jobs paying $3.4 billion last year. He said projects involving 50,000 jobs are in negotiation.
CINCINNATI
Man faces charge he punched lawyer
A man whose lawyer helped him get acquitted on an attempted murder count now faces charges that he punched the attorney in the courtroom.
A Hamilton County Common Pleas jury convicted Dionte Lummus of felonious assault, robbery and other charges. He faces 34 years for those convictions, while he was found not guilty on the most serious count.
But he is charged with escape and assaulting an officer of the court.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports Lummus hit attorney William Oswall in the face Monday after he unsuccessfully tried to fire him in mid-trial. A deputy tackled him when he tried to run.
Oswall continued to argue his case, explaining that if the defendant was your brother or sister, you’d want him to continue to fight as hard as possible.
CINCINNATI
Radiologist sentenced for shower camera
A radiologist has been sentenced after pleading guilty to a charge that he secretly videoed a girl using the shower in his home.
Jeffrey Dardinger apologized at his sentencing Tuesday. Hamilton County Judge Dennis Helmick ordered him to serve three years of probation, 200 hours of community service, and to report his whereabouts as a sex offender for 15 years.
His victim, now age, 20, wrote to the court that Dardinger had ruined “every ounce of trust” that she had in people when she learned he used the camera on her in his then-home in Amberley Village near Cincinnati.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that he was fired from the Florence, Ky., medical practice where he worked. His attorney says Dardinger’s life “has really fallen off the cliff.”
OTTAWA
Ohio teacher gets life for raping child
A former northwest Ohio industrial arts teacher has been sentenced to life in prison for raping a child.
Fifty-five-year-old Jeffrey Perry was sentenced this week in Ottawa, north of Lima. He pleaded guilty in January to three counts of raping a child younger than 13.
The local case against Perry developed after he was implicated in an FBI investigation into the distribution of child pornography. He still faces federal charges.
Perry worked for the Continental school district as an industrial arts teacher from 1995 to 2003. His position was eliminated by budget cuts. He also worked in other districts.
CLEVELAND
Union wants police chief out over chase
The Cleveland police union wants the police chief to resign in the wake of a critical state report that blames lack of leadership for a chase that ended with 137 shots fired and two people killed in a fleeing car.
The Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association called Wednesday for Chief Michael McGrath’s resignation.
The chief referred requests for comment Wednesday to Mayor Frank Jackson, who gave McGrath a renewed vote of confidence.
The report Tuesday from Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said the Nov. 29 chase involving more than 60 officers resulted from police leadership and communications failures. No weapon was found in the fleeing car.
WEWS-TV says union president Jeff Follmer places police morale at an all-time low amid multiple investigations into the chase.
COLUMBUS
Teen accused in slaying was wanted by police
Authorities in central Ohio say a 14-year-old boy accused of gunning down a 64-year-old man had been sought since he cut off an electronic-monitoring bracelet last week.
The boy was arrested after Monday’s night shooting at an apartment on the southeast side of Columbus. He’s facing a delinquency count of murder.
Records said the boy was put on electronic monitoring after he was caught driving without a license and failing to pull over for officers while driving a stolen car on Jan. 20. Records said he cut off the bracelet and disappeared Jan. 29.
Police say the teen fatally shot Anthony Hines and took his wallet. Police haven’t said how they came to arrest him in connection with the slaying.
CHILLICOTHE
Man apologizes after septic tank body trial
An Ohio man convicted of aggravated murder and other charges in the slaying of his daughter-in-law, who was strangled and dumped in a septic tank, has apologized to her family for their loss.
Media outlets report 48-year-old William Inman apologized Wednesday in his trial’s sentencing phase.
A jury in Chillicothe is considering whether to recommend the death penalty. Jurors began deliberations in the sentencing phase Wednesday afternoon.
Inman was found guilty Monday in 25-year-old Summer Inman’s slaying in March 2011. William Inman denied killing his daughter-in-law.
The trial was moved to Chillicothe in Ross County after unsuccessful attempts to seat a jury in Hocking County.
Inman’s son and wife were convicted last year in the murder.
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