Sebring water criminal case headed for trial in November

Staff report

SEBRING

The final scheduled pretrial hearing in the criminal case against Sebring’s former water-system operator wrapped up Thursday with no plea agreement, so the case is headed for a jury trial Nov. 6.

Prosecutors from the Ohio Attorney General’s office and defense attorney John Juhasz met in chambers with Judge Diane Vettori to discuss pending motions in the case.

Among them are ones asking Judge Vettori to withhold certain testimony from trial or require a party to provide certain information at the trial. The judge has not ruled on several motions.

The case accuses James Bates, 61, of Carey Road in Salem of three misdemeanor crimes associated with late notifications to water customers of the Sebring Water Department in late 2015 and early 2016 regarding high levels of lead in the drinking water.

Because of high lead levels and late notifications, a tap-water drinking advisory was issued in Sebring in January 2016, schools were closed, blood testing clinics were conducted and free bottled water was distributed.

High lead levels were detected in August and September 2015.

Before June 2016, water-supply officials had 30 days to notify homeowners whose taps were tested of lead level results and 60 days to notify the entire community.

On June 9, 2016, Gov. John Kasich signed House Bill 512, requiring residents to be notified of results within two days.

Lead levels exceeding 15 parts per billion are considered unsafe by the U.S. EPA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Some Sebring taps tested above 36 ppb.