Trial of former Sebring water-department operator continued

SEBRING — The trial of former Sebring water-department operator James V. Bates previously set for Monday has been postponed, but a new date has not been set.

Bates, 62, of Carey Road in Salem, faces three unclassified misdemeanor criminal charges alleging he failed to comply with Ohio drinking water notifications in late 2016 and early 2016 by not timely notifying the Sebring district’s customers of excessive amounts of lead in their drinking water.

Each charge carries a penalty of up to four years in prison.

The public learned of the excess lead in January 2016 after high lead levels were detected in August and September 2015.

The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting the case.