Pubdate: Wed, 01 Nov 2000
Source: Blade, The (OH)
Copyright: 2000 The Blade
Contact:  541 North Superior St., Toledo OH 43660
Website: http://www.toledoblade.com/
Author: Jim Provance

O'CONNOR'S SON IS FACING DRUG CHARGE

ATHENS, OH - A son of Ohio Lt. Gov. Maureen O'Connor is due in court
next week to face a felony cocaine possession charge.

Alex J. Kipp, 21, of Akron, faces a maximum prison sentence of 12
months and a $2,500 fine, but his attorney said yesterday he is
unlikely to do jail time for a fifth-degree felony, if convicted.

According to Athens city police, a baggy containing 0.7 of a gram of
cocaine was found in Mr. Kipp's car Friday night when he was pulled
over for running a stoplight.

A search dog found marijuana buds in an ashtray, as well as a
marijuana pipe under the driver's seat, police said. No charges were
filed in relation to those.

"I love and support my son," Ms. O'Connor said. "We will work this
through together as a family."

Ms. O'Connor is a former Summit County prosecutor and judge. As
lieutenant governor, she is director of the Ohio Department of Public
Safety and Governor Taft's chief policy adviser on criminal justice
issues.

According to police, Mr. Kipp was pulled over at 10:35 p.m. for
allegedly running the traffic signal. A police dog routinely used in
such stops reportedly sniffed out the drugs.

A preliminary hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. Nov. 7 in Athens Municipal
Court. Mr. Kipp was released on his own recognizance after making his
first court appearance Monday.

Last weekend was Athens's big Halloween celebration, but neither the
court nor Mr. Kipp's attorney, Tom Hodson, knew if that was why he was
in the city. He is not a student at Ohio University here.
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