TV reporter pleads innocent to charges
CINCINNATI (AP) -- A television news reporter pleaded innocent Friday to charges that he had sexual contact with minors, some of whom were troubled youths he had mentored.
Stephen Hill, 45, was arraigned in Hamilton County Municipal Court on eight felony charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Judge Karla Grady set bond at $250,000 and ordered Hill jailed.
Hill has been a reporter since 1989 for WCPO-TV, which reaches 870,000 households in Ohio, northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana and is owned by E.W. Scripps Co.
Bill Fee, vice president and general manager, said the station has placed Hill on administrative leave.
The contact is alleged to have occurred over the last several years with four youths, who are now ages 14 to 18, according to court documents.
Investigators believe Hill's relationships with the youths began with his mentoring work, police said.
Each charge carries a possible sentence of six months to a year and a half in prison.
Hill had self-inflicted slashes on his wrists when officers broke in the door to his home Feb. 27, police said. His arraignment was delayed to give him time to recover in a hospital.