Grand juries to resume in Hamilton County, will use probate courtroom
Grand juries will begin meeting again Monday in Hamilton County using a probate court courtroom as well as a remodeled space that allows social distancing.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, a grand jury hasn't been in session since April 3, officials said, and Prosecutor Joe Deters said there is a backlog of more than 600 cases.
The prosecutor's office on East Ninth Street doesn't have the space to accommodate two grand juries, which officials said require at least 26 people, and still follow Gov. Mike DeWine's orders regarding social distancing. The office has remodeled a room to accommodate one grand jury.
Probate Judge Ralph "Ted" Winkler offered one of his courtrooms, which he said is a large, safe and secure environment to seat the second grand jury.
The probate court is housed in the same building as the prosecutor's office.
"This move is cost-effective for the prosecutor’s office as well as my court and provides transparency to the residents of Hamilton County and ensures justice will not be delayed or denied," Winkler said in a statement.
Among the people still awaiting indictment by a grand jury is Alto Miles, a parolee accused of going on a "spree killing," shooting four people within 24 hours in North Avondale and Avondale.
Miles is charged with murder and is being held without bond at the county jail, but a grand jury will determine whether to issue an indictment and send the case to trial.
Grand juries are not public.
Last month, Miles and numerous other defendants whose cases have been delayed filed motions, seeking to be released from jail and/or a preliminary hearing, which would determine if there was enough evidence for a trial.
Hamilton County Municipal Judge Brad Greenberg set a grand jury report date in Miles' case for May 29.
"We simply do not have the space in our office to run two grand juries and follow the governor’s orders to keep everyone safe," Deters said. "I feel that it is important to the defendants charged, the victims of offenses and the entire community for us to hear these cases as quickly as possible."