(UPDATE)REPORTER ADMISSIONS CAPTURED ON TAPE

Cincinnati Post ^ | 3/6/2004 | Kimball Perry

[JesseHousman]

(CINCINNATI)In secretly recorded conversations, WCPO television reporter Stephen Hill admits having sex with teen-age boys who were minors, law enforcement sources said Friday.

Hill, who is in jail on suicide watch, pleaded not guilty Friday to eight charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.

But the sources said Hill is captured on tape in conversations with some of his accusers and their families making "admissions" to allegations that he had sex with boys ages 14 and 15.

That was part of the case scheduled to be presented Friday afternoon to a Hamilton County grand jury. By law, grand jury proceedings are secret. Any potential indictment, though, could be handed down early next week.

Also part of the criminal case against Hill, 45, is information that police gathered after WCPO managers turned over Hill's work computer and hard drive to authorities.

WCPO General Manager Bill Fee confirmed Friday that the station turned over evidence in the criminal case against Hill but refused to provide specifics.

"We turned over a variety of information to police," Fee said Friday. "I cannot comment on details of the investigation."

Police also have searched Hill's Avondale home for evidence that could corroborate the allegations. That includes the search for possible kiddie porn on computers that Hill used, sources said Friday.

Police arrested Hill at his home Feb. 27. When Hill saw police arrive, he ran to the back of his house, then slashed his throat and wrists.

When Hill, who had remained in the hospital for the past week, appeared in court Friday, he bore scars on his neck and both wrists were bandaged. He also wore a bright yellow jail outfit, signifying he is an inmate on suicide watch. Hill remained in the Justice Center Friday night after being unable to make the $250,000 cash bond imposed by Municipal Court Judge Karla Grady.

One of Hill's friends said Friday that Hill became depressed after he was removed from Channel 9's investigative team.

Fee, though, said Hill was removed from WCPO's I-Team to fill in for a general assignment reporter who left the station.

"I made a strategic decision to increase our presence of GA reporting on the street. That took place January 1. I don't think this is relevant to the case,"Fee said.

Ken Lawson, Hill's attorney, said he understands that outsiders may perceive Hill as being guilty of something because of his attempt to kill himself, but insists those issues must be dealt with in a court of law instead of the court of public opinion.

" understand why people have questions, not only that question but lots of questions,"Lawson said after Friday's arraignment. " can't answer that until it gets on the courtroom floor. This is nothing to play with."

Hill is accused of having sex with four boys, ages 14 and 15, between 2001 and January of this year, including one whom Hill was mentoring.

Hill was a foster parent for Hamilton County's Department of Jobs & Family Services in 1994 and 1995. Neither of the two children placed in his home through the department are accusers in the criminal case against him.

[JesseHousman]

..."This is nothing to play with."

Truer words never spoken. And by the defense attorney.

""More at eleven."

[Enterprise]

"REPORTER ADMISSIONS CAPTURED ON TAPE"

D'OH!

[NYC GOP Chick]

I think he needs to get together with this other sicko: WOMAN, 50, GUILTY OF SEX WITH GIRL, 14.

[billorites]

This has to look bad on a resume.

[edeal]

What is wrong with Cincinnati these days. I was born there and lived half my life there, and it seems it has been getting nothing but bad press.

From riots to news anchor pedophiles. It is punishment for giving Jerry Springer his start.

[Enterprise]

Well, if he applies for the Advocate it might be a resume enhancement.

[saluki_in_ohio]

Damn, there is a run of pedophilia in Southwest Ohio!

First the 50 y.o. woman and a 14 y.o girl in Xenia, now a reporter for a Cincy TV station having a thing for young boys.

Could it be something in the Great Miami River water that is causing this?

[martin_fierro]

Ecce homo.

[Houmatt]

Surprise, surprise. A homosexual and a pedophile.

Does anyone expect GLAAD or PFLAG to distance themselves from this sick bastrad?

Listens as the echo fades into the distance.......

[JimRed]

Hill, who is in jail on suicide watch...

...should be given a rope and a razor blade and allowed to save the cost of prosecution...

[satchmodog9]

Where is the cry for media investigations. Where is the headlines for big media sex abuse allegations all over the morning news. This is not the first time I have seen an article on a member of the press doing something like this. It will vanish from the media accounts very soon. The last one I remember was from Chicago. It was a CLTV sports reporter if I remember correctly. This is horrible. I am already angry because I know that this type of thing gets selectively reported and swept under the table. He will get his in the end(no pun intended) but, it will not make the rest of the media look bad. There is, in effect , going to be a sort of cover up on this because it will go under reported. That makes it just as bad as a church covering for its members. No one wants to indict one of thier own. It still does not make it any less wrong or any different, after all was this man not mentoring some of these boys. Wrong is wrong and, after all, isn't the media supposed to be watching out for us not preying on our kids. I'm sure this guy led many an evening newscast with Father Gagen stories.

[SAMWolf]

How long belong this is all just classified an "Alternate Life-style"and they start demanding their "rights" to it?

Then the Judges, Mayors and County Commimssioners will all be falling over themselves to be "progressive thinking" and find that this is all guaranteed in our Constitution.

Next they'll start issuing "Learning permits" to the kids and "teaching licenses" to the adults.

[Drango]

Too bad he wasn't in SF where he could have gotten a marriage license and just had his way with the boys...

[NYC GOP Chick]

That's just too nauseating to even contemplate.

[Tacis]

First, wait until this guy's reporters' union get involved. Then, he was just doing reseach for a STORY and his actions are procted by the FIRST ammendment and the tape is a confidential and inadmissable reporter's prodect. And, finally, this is just retaliatory racial profiling against amedia person who sought the truth of recent police excesses.

My bet is that most of these cards will be played before this is over.

[SAMWolf]

Yes it is, but you just know it's coming. It's worked for the queers.

[doug from upland]

Bad timing on his part. In just a few more years he would be able to marry several boys at the same time in San Francisco.

[mtbopfuyn]

When Hill saw police arrive, he ran to the back of his house, then slashed his throat and wrists

Police screwed that up too.

[New Horizon]

I think he needs to get together with this other sicko: WOMAN, 50, GUILTY OF SEX WITH GIRL, 14.

Considering their "preferences", chances are they would not hit it off very well.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

ALL gay adoption/foster care is child abuse.