Suspect in 9-year-old’s rape arrested in Mexico
(Hamilton, Ohio - March 23, 2011)

Alfredo Lopez Cruz

HAMILTON — It could be as long as a year before Alfredo Lopez Cruz is brought back to the United States to face trial for allegedly kidnapping and raping a 9-year-old Hamilton girl, Butler County Sheriff’s officials said today, March 23.

Sheriff Richard K. Jones said it could be 6 to 8 months before Cruz, who is being detained in Mexico City, is extradicted to the U.S. But if Cruz, 28, fights extradition, it could take a year or longer, Jones said.

Butler County’s most wanted suspect was apprehended in Mexico on March 18 after evading authorities for more than five years, according to sheriff’s officials.

Jones said Cruz’s identity has been proven. The man — wanted for the kidnapping and rape of a 9-year-old Hamilton girl on Father’s Day 2005 — faces a five-count indictment on rape and kidnapping charges...[Full Article]

Guilty verdict reached, death penalty possible in Fairfield double murder

Source: Butler Co Jail

HAMILTON, OH (FOX19) - A Butler County jury has found a suspect guilty of all charges in a gang-related double murder.

The verdict came Thursday night in Butler County Common Pleas Court in Hamilton.

Edel Hernandez-Martinez was one of two men accused in shooting Evelin Moralex and Marlon Enamorado-Gomez to death outside the Casa Tequila restaurant in July, 2008...[Full Article]

Sheriff Among Toughest On Illegal Immigration
(Hamilton, Ohio - November 10, 2010)

HAMILTON, Ohio -- An area sheriff has been recognized as one of the nation's toughest on illegal immigrants.

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones was ranked as America's seventh toughest immigration sheriff by Foxnews.com.

The news website conducted an informal poll of immigration experts, think tanks and law enforcement organizations to compile the rankings...

[Full Article]

Teen Rapist Sentenced To 28 Years In Prison
(Hamilton, Ohio - October 8, 2010)

HAMILTON -- A teen convicted of assaulting and raping a neighbor was sentenced Friday morning to 28 years in prison.

Alex Ramirez was 14 when he beat, robbed and raped a 64-year-old woman who lived near his home.

Ramirez, standing trial as an adult, pleaded no contest and was found guilty of the assault in August...

[Full Article]

Poll: Ohio voters lean toward Arizona immigration law (Hamilton, Ohio - June 30, 2010)

HAMILTON — More Ohio voters support this state passing an immigration law similar to Arizona’s new law than oppose it, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday, June 29.

The poll found 45 percent of respondents want Ohio to pass a law similar to Arizona’s new law, compared to 35 percent who do not. Another 20 percent are on the fence, according to the poll results...

[Full Article]

Sheriff, Lawmaker Urge Ohio To Pass Law Like Arizona's (Hamilton, Ohio - April 27, 2010)

HAMILTON, Ohio -- An area lawmaker and law enforcement official known for their tough stances on illegal immigration have asked Ohio officials for legislation similar to a controversial Arizona law.

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones and state Rep. Courtney Combs sent letters Tuesday to Gov. Ted Strickland, Senate President Bill Harris and Speaker of the House Armond Budish urging them to develop and pass a law that mirrors Arizona's Senate Bill 1070.

Under the new law, legal immigrants would required to carry documents to prove their status and law enforcement officers would be required to check the legal status of anyone they suspect of being undocumented...

Is Ohio Law On Illegal Immigrants Too Weak? (Hamilton, Ohio - April 28, 2010)

Sheriff and state rep. want bill similar to Arizona plan; critics fear racial profiling.

HAMILTON — A local lawmaker and Butler County’s sheriff are urging the state to move ahead with immigration reforms along the lines of a controversial new law in Arizona that critics say creates a “police state.”

In a letter sent Tuesday, April 27, state Rep. Courtney Combs, R-Hamilton, and Sheriff Richard K. Jones urged the governor and leaders of the General Assembly to move ahead with stalled state immigration legislation.

Bills pending in Ohio include one, sponsored by Combs, which requires employers to check a prospective hire’s legal status or risk noncompliance with tax law. Others would allow local law enforcement more ability to assist federal immigration officials...

$100,000.00 Goes To Deported Mexican (Hamilton, Ohio - April 21,2010)

HAMILTON, Ohio -- Luis Rodriguez sued Butler County and Sheriff Richard Jones after being rounded up in an immigration raid.

Rodriguez and his attorney, Al Gerhardstein, maintain that deputies along with an "immigration specialist" working for Jones didn't have probable cause to detain and question Rodriguez.

Rodriguez and 19 others were working as sub-contractors for J&A Drywall on January 2, 2007. They were told to meet with authorities inside a trailer on the site.

Rodriguez produced documents that were fraudulent and later admitted to being in the United States illegally.

"He was criminally charged with possessing fraudulent documents. He was acquitted of those charges, but because he was in custody at the Butler County jail, the federal immigration authorities were called," explained Gerhardstein.

Gerhardstein says the case was a few weeks from trial when Butler County offered a settlement payment.

"The Constitution, particularly the Fourth Amendment, applies to 'persons.' It says all 'persons' shall be protected from unreasonable searches and seizures. 'Persons' are undocumented, are citizens, are non-citizens, they're 'persons.' So, you need probable cause,” said Gerhardstein...

Man Who Got 2 Jobs Using Stolen Identity Awaits Deportation (Hamilton, Ohio - April 1, 2010)

HAMILTON — The Mexican man who held down two jobs in the Dayton area with an identity stolen from an unemployed Oklahoman is in federal custody awaiting deportation, according to federal authorities.

Jose R. Acosta, 51, was being held in the Butler County Jail “pending his removal from the U.S.,” Khaalid Walls, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement said in an email on Wednesday, March 31.

Last week, Acosta was sentenced in Warren County Common Pleas Court to three years on probation, but held for federal authorities, for using documents identifying him as Christopher Wilson, 42, of Antlers, Okla., to obtain jobs with a Springboro clockmaker and maintenance contractor for Miami Valley Hospital.

Wilson said he remained unemployed.

Illegal Immigrants Charged in Phony ID Sting (Hamilton, Ohio - July 14, 2009)
...An undercover Butler County agent ordered four falsified Social Security cards from Torres-Torres, who deputies had those items in his possession when he was arrested...