Man accused of attacking pregnant woman was deemed mentally ill months ago

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CINCINNATI — The case of a man deemed mentally ill in April after a series of violent crimes was back in court Monday charged with attacking a woman who is nine months pregnant.

Anthony Smith in accused of attacking the woman near the LeBlond pool on Riverside Drive.

“Some doctor at Summit made a decision that he was suitable to be released,” said Probate Judge Ralph Winkler.

Winker said the court has little power over what happens after a person is considered to be mentally ill.

“Once he’s mentally ill, it becomes a medical decision, not a court decision. The doctors treating him decide when or if he should be released,” Winkler said.

The victim who is nine-months pregnant said she was walking her dog when Smith attacked her. The victim said Smith attempted to rape her and when she fought back, Smith hit her over and over in the face.

The victim was beaten so severely she had to be hospitalized.

Smith was released from Summit Behavioral Center despite a series of violent attacks beginning in May of 2017.

“They do take history into account. At the end of the day with competency they look at the person’s current state of mind,” said Smith’s probate attorney, James Bogan.

Summit Behavioral Center is part of the Ohio Department of Mental Health. They did not return phone calls about the case.

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Man accused of attacking pregnant woman was deemed mentally ill months ago

Ohio's Health Department Wants Direct Authority to Go After Bad Nursing Homes

By Catherine Candisky
The Columbus Dispatch

The Ohio Department of Health wants more authority to crack down on poorly performing nursing homes and staff members who mistreat residents.

After a couple of highly publicized incidents, Gov. John Kasich’s administration has asked the state Senate to return to the two-year budget plan two provisions aimed at protecting residents and improving care. The measures had been proposed by Dave Holston, chief of the state agency’s Office of Health Assurance and Licensing, said the authority would allow state officials to act quickly if problems arise.

“We want to improve quality of care,” he said.

Holston pointed to an incident last summer when 175 patients at Regency Manor Rehabilitation and Subacute Center in Columbus spent more than a week without air conditioning before being relocated. In another case, an aide was charged after performing a sexually provocative dance on a 100-year-old resident at an assisted-living facility in Sandusky.

About 75,000 Ohioans live in 967 nursing homes across the state.

Some say the added authority is unnecessary.

“We’re not really sure why they need this. They can already intervene,” said Pete Van Runkle, executive director of the Ohio Health Care Association, which represents the nursing home industry.

The state has authority under the federal regulatory system to impose corrective action or appoint a temporary manager to take over as needed, he said.

Advocates for seniors support the administration’s proposal.

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Ohio's Health Department Wants Direct Authority to Go After Bad Nursing Homes