Op Ed: White Crosswell Opinion

September 7, 2007

I don't know if Brenda Nessleroad-Slaby is guilty of a crime as a result of leaving her two year old daughter strapped in a car outside Glen Este Middle School for eight hours in searing heat.

But I do know that a vast number of Clermont County residents are outraged at the way the child’s death was handled by at least two men who were elected to represent the public’s interest.

On Tuesday, Clermont County prosecutor Don White announced that he would not present the case against Ms. Nessleroad-Slaby to the Grand Jury.  Thus, it is predetermined according to White that in his opinion, "no crime was committed".
Ironically, a second elected official in Clermont County, Commissioner Scott Crosswell seemed to play a key role in resolving this matter before a Grand Jury, a panel of Ms. Nessleroad-Slaby’s peers could have a say in the matter.

Acting as legal counsel to the mother, Croswell launched a relentless media campaign in defense of his client.  Good lawyering…but was justice served?  Without a Grand jury review of the case, we’ll never know for sure.

Croswell's preemptive defense concluded on Wednesday morning with this quote in the local media; "I can understand why the public would assume that if you forget a child in an automobile, it’s a criminal event. Part of the reason is it’s so unusual.  But when it does occur, it’s not criminal."  Hmmm.

Both White and Crosswell have a lot of convincing to do.  These two prominent elected officials need to convince the residents of Clermont County that under the law, everyone is equal.  And they need to convince me that they truly represent the values and morals of this community.

A simple presentation of this case before the Grand Jury would have been a good first step.

Dave Lane
Chairman
Clermont County Democratic Party