September 28, 2006 - 10:32 a.m.
Senator David Goodman
Senate Building
Room #125, First Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Dear Senator Goodman:
In the article below dated April 29, 2005,
http://bucyrusea.ohea.us/News%20release/April%2029,%202005.htm
you stated the reporting lapse in the Mifflin case was "inexcusable".
Well, we believe the failure to report an attack on two teenage girls by James Drennen, another adult male, and an adult female is "inexcusable". Your designee "Nathan" had been speaking to the parent of one of the teenage girls attack almost from the beginning and our advocacy group for the last several months; yet, your designee Nathan did little if anything to ensure these "inexcusable" acts were formally considered for prosecution. We even requested a meeting with you to share additional documentation about a month ago; however, Nathan did not respond to our request as promised.
You have now proposed Senate Bill No. 137 that would amend 2151.99 of the Revised Code to increase the penalty for a failure to report abuse or neglect of a child from a misdemeanor of the fourth degree to a misdemeanor of the first degree. In fact, we were glad to read that you had garnered other supporters of S.B. No. 137 that included Senators Padgett, Clancy, Cates, Gardner, Jacobson, and Dann.
You stated the following as the reason for wanting to make failure to report punishable by a maximum six months in jail and a $1,000 fine "It is my hope that by increasing the penalty for violating this law that mandatory reporters will take this responsibility more seriously."
In the case of the attack on the girls on school property, mandated reporters did not take seriously the need to report "child abuse", and although the Ohio Department of Education supports the bill and the State Board of Education has made that a legislative recommendation for at least three years, they, too, have been silent.
Board Member Stephanie Groce also received the same attachment and CD's at the end of the CPS Board meeting on Tuesday, September 19, 2006. As you will note from the attachment, Ms. Groce was the only Board member who responded to our request and made an inquire on our behalf to the Superintendent. Presently, the same materials were mailed to Senator Ray Miller, Chief James Jackson, City Attorney Richard Pfeiffer, Community Relations Director James Stowe, Congressman Mike Dewine, Safety Director Mitchell Brown. (Note-Please request a copy of the CD's from any of the aforementioned persons for your personal review.)
In fact, after listening to the "911" call and conversations with Carol Harper, former Customer Relations Office Supervisor; Terry Boyd, President of CPS School Board; Sergeant Lintz, Strategic Response Bureau Supervisor, and Steve McIntosh, Chief Prosecutor for the City Attorney's office, and the accused James Drennen, you will realize that no persons did an investigation and no persons questioned the accused perpetrators. Please note the attachment to this e-mail as well. It contains written communications to support "failure to report" and "cover-up by public officials".
Since school authorities have now taken a position and have stated in a letter dated September 6, 2006 that they did not follow ORC 2151.99 nor their own 5161.8 when they became aware two teenage girls had been attacked on school property by adults February 14, 2006, we will expect you and other elected officials to ensure the appropriate investigation of "child abuse" is conducted according to the "Memorandum of Understanding" under Ohio Law and mandated reporters charged for "failure to report".
It is important to note that the September 6, 2006 letter from CPS Auditor Harold Saunders addressed to Ms. Kent only and copied to the Board of Education, Superintendent Gene Harris, Treasurer Mr. Kinnear, Mr. Larry Braverman, Ms. Ey, Mr. Holmes, Ms. Ralls and File did not include a copy to either of the parents whose children were attacked that night. Although the auditor indicated the letter was not a legal opinion, Mr. Larry Braverman, who is copied on the letter, is in fact, the attorney for the district. If a legal opinion was important or needed, Mr. Braverman should have contributed or, at least, reviewed Mr. Saunder's response.
We look forward to your response within the next five days letting us know what your office is going to do about the additional documentation that has been placed in your hands with regard to the attack on the girls Valentine's Day on school property by adults, one of whom has an extensive criminal record that includes manslaughter, robbery, theft, felonious assault, and crack cocaine possession.
In conclusion, we direct you to our website www.justiceforkids.net for further detail on the case.
Sincerely,
James A. Whitaker
B.Kennedy Kent
JUSTICE FOR KIDS