Ohio county changes children services director after basement case

HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) — A southwest Ohio county has put a new director in charge of its children services agency after criticism of its handling of the case of a 12-year-old girl allegedly confined to a basement for weeks.

The Cincinnati Enquirer also reports that an agency intake supervisor has been suspended for three days for not acting on an earlier complaint. Investigators have said the girl had been kept in the basement as discipline.

The agency’s director was placed on leave Monday, and Butler County officials on Thursday said county job and family services director will also head the children services agency in a reorganization.

A Middletown couple has pleaded not guilty to child endangering charges. The girl and five other children in their home have been placed in foster care.