In a hotbed of conservatism here just north of Cincinnati I would think the judges would be a little less lenient but then again we take our high school football very seriously as well. 😕 This wreck happed about a mile from my house.
Cliffs:
.16 y.o. with a 1 day old license
.answers cell while smoking pot
.goes left-of-center and kills lady with 8 month fetus
.released from jail to go to football conditioning
Teen driver released
BY SHEILA MCLAUGHLIN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
LEBANON - A 16-year-old Loveland junior charged in a crash that killed a mother and her unborn son can start conditioning for the upcoming football season this week, a judge said as he released the boy from juvenile detention Monday.
Alexander Manocchio must be home with a parent at all times and can leave the house only when he is with one of them, said Judge Michael Powell of Warren County Juvenile Court.
"He has to be with you and within arm's reach," Powell told Nicholas and Karen Manocchio.
That includes trips to the high school for conditioning sessions three times a week from 8 to 10 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the judge said.
Powell banned Manocchio from driving and ordered him to undergo random drug tests while his court case is pending.
"The only thing that gives me cause for concern is drug usage, and I feel the drug screens we will be doing will adequately protect against that," the judge said.
Manocchio is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide in the June 17 deaths of Karyn "Nikki" Cordell, of Deerfield Township, and her unborn son, Dartagnan Rowe, who was due to be born in July.
The 22-year-old college student, who was returning from a short trip to buy chocolate milk, also had a 2-year-old daughter.
State patrol officials said Manocchio was speeding and distracted by reaching to answer a cell phone when he crossed the center line on Landen Drive about 10:30 p.m. and hit Cordell's car head-on. Manocchio had received his driver's license the day before.
Investigators also are awaiting the results of drug tests because troopers said at least one of two passengers in Manocchio's SUV indicated he was smoking marijuana that night.
Assistant Prosecutor Julie Kraft objected to Manocchio's release and the suggestion that he could attend football conditioning.
"The prosecutor is assuming guilt before any guilt has been found," attorney Charles Rittgers argued. "One of the things my client needs is positiveness in his life, and being part of the football team, I think, would be a very positive influence on his life."
Rittgers had argued unsuccessfully to shut the media out of hearings in Manocchio's case, saying it would psychologically damage his client.
Enquirer attorney Jack Greiner and Jill Meyer, an attorney representing four television stations, argued against closure.
Greiner pointed out that details about the case had already been reported, and that Manocchio had psychological issues because of the crash, not media coverage. He also said the case was of public interest because it involved serious safety issues that have been debated lately at the Statehouse - teen driving and cell phone use in cars.
Cordell's family did not attend Monday's hearing. Chuck Rowe, Cordell's fiancé, declined to comment later when reached by phone, saying an attorney representing the family advised against talking about the case.
Rittgers said the judge's decision to release Manocchio and allow him to attend football conditioning was fair.
"He is deeply depressed over the fact that he caused the death of this mother-to-be and her unborn baby," Rittgers said.
"This was a tragic accident based on a mistake. Were not talking about somebody who planned to go out and hurt another human being. This could have happened to any one of us."
Cliffs:
.16 y.o. with a 1 day old license
.answers cell while smoking pot
.goes left-of-center and kills lady with 8 month fetus
.released from jail to go to football conditioning
Teen driver released
BY SHEILA MCLAUGHLIN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
LEBANON - A 16-year-old Loveland junior charged in a crash that killed a mother and her unborn son can start conditioning for the upcoming football season this week, a judge said as he released the boy from juvenile detention Monday.
Alexander Manocchio must be home with a parent at all times and can leave the house only when he is with one of them, said Judge Michael Powell of Warren County Juvenile Court.
"He has to be with you and within arm's reach," Powell told Nicholas and Karen Manocchio.
That includes trips to the high school for conditioning sessions three times a week from 8 to 10 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the judge said.
Powell banned Manocchio from driving and ordered him to undergo random drug tests while his court case is pending.
"The only thing that gives me cause for concern is drug usage, and I feel the drug screens we will be doing will adequately protect against that," the judge said.
Manocchio is charged with aggravated vehicular homicide in the June 17 deaths of Karyn "Nikki" Cordell, of Deerfield Township, and her unborn son, Dartagnan Rowe, who was due to be born in July.
The 22-year-old college student, who was returning from a short trip to buy chocolate milk, also had a 2-year-old daughter.
State patrol officials said Manocchio was speeding and distracted by reaching to answer a cell phone when he crossed the center line on Landen Drive about 10:30 p.m. and hit Cordell's car head-on. Manocchio had received his driver's license the day before.
Investigators also are awaiting the results of drug tests because troopers said at least one of two passengers in Manocchio's SUV indicated he was smoking marijuana that night.
Assistant Prosecutor Julie Kraft objected to Manocchio's release and the suggestion that he could attend football conditioning.
"The prosecutor is assuming guilt before any guilt has been found," attorney Charles Rittgers argued. "One of the things my client needs is positiveness in his life, and being part of the football team, I think, would be a very positive influence on his life."
Rittgers had argued unsuccessfully to shut the media out of hearings in Manocchio's case, saying it would psychologically damage his client.
Enquirer attorney Jack Greiner and Jill Meyer, an attorney representing four television stations, argued against closure.
Greiner pointed out that details about the case had already been reported, and that Manocchio had psychological issues because of the crash, not media coverage. He also said the case was of public interest because it involved serious safety issues that have been debated lately at the Statehouse - teen driving and cell phone use in cars.
Cordell's family did not attend Monday's hearing. Chuck Rowe, Cordell's fiancé, declined to comment later when reached by phone, saying an attorney representing the family advised against talking about the case.
Rittgers said the judge's decision to release Manocchio and allow him to attend football conditioning was fair.
"He is deeply depressed over the fact that he caused the death of this mother-to-be and her unborn baby," Rittgers said.
"This was a tragic accident based on a mistake. Were not talking about somebody who planned to go out and hurt another human being. This could have happened to any one of us."
