Judge James Heath Was Arrested For DUI Saturday

POSTED: 10:53 am EDT May 24, 2009
UPDATED: 9:27 pm EDT May 24, 2009

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- Hamilton Township police have confirmed
that a Warren County judge who was arrested Saturday morning has been
found dead in his home.

Troopers said that Judge James Heath was pulled over on state Route 48
at 8:30 p.m. Saturday for allegedly driving outside the lines.

He was taken to a Highway Patrol post and cited for operating a
vehicle while intoxicated. Troopers said that his wife picked him up
and took him home.

"Warren County has lost a very good man and I know I have lost a very
good friend," said Braley. "He was a kind, gentle man with everyone he
came in contact with. He was a great judge and will be so missed by
everyone that was involved with him."

Braley said Heath's estranged wife found him inside their home on
Nunner Road in Hamilton Township. He is survived by three children.

Close friends said he was dealing with several hardships in his life
including stomach cancer.

Police said Heath's death was being investigated as a possible
suicide.

Detectives said that although they are investigating the death as a
suicide, they are waiting for toxicology results before confirming a
cause of death.

Saturday's arrest was Heath's second since October of last year, when
he was arrested for DUI in Clinton County.

After the October arrest, police released video footage in which Heath
can be seen and heard berating the trooper who pulled him over.

In that case, the trooper said he pulled Heath over after witnessing
him swerving while driving and running a stoplight.

At the time, Heath told police that side effects from chemotherapy
treatment had killed nerve endings in his hands and impaired his
vision.

The judge was charged with driving under the influence, but he later
pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of reckless operation.

The video prompted Warren County Commissioner Michael Kilburn to call
for Heath's resignation.

"He put that officer in a terrible position and he wasn't a man is the
worse part about it," Kilburn told News 5. "He acted like a little
girl. He was begging that cop to ya know, I just think it was awful."
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Judge Begs Trooper Not To Arrest Him During Traffic Stop
Video Footage Shows Judge's Arrest On DUI Charge

POSTED: 5:40 pm EST February 6, 2009
UPDATED: 6:21 pm EST February 6, 2009

LEBANON, Ohio -- A Warren County judge accused of drunken driving
berated the state trooper who pulled him over, according to video
footage shot by police.

The arrest took place in October, but recently released videotape
showed Common Pleas Court Judge James Heath urging the trooper not to
arrest him.

The state trooper said he spotted Heath swerving as he drove on Locust
Street in Wilmington, and authorities also said the judge ran a
stoplight.

Heath told police that side effects from chemotherapy treatment had
killed nerve endings in his hands and impaired his vision.

The trooper asked the judge if the treatments also affected the way he
walked and stood.

Yeah, big time, Heath said.

The judge admitted to drinking ***, but denied that he was
intoxicated.

I had like two glasses of wine, a long time ago, a long time ago,
Heath told the trooper.

The trooper administered a field sobriety test to Heath, who begged
the officer not to arrest him.

I'm a judge, Heath said. I don't want to go through with all this.
I don't want to go through the whole thing. We work with your court,
too.

Heath continued pleading with the trooper.

Please don't do this, Heath said. Don't do this. It will ruin my
career. It will ruin yours.

The trooper told Heath that he must perform his job duties and asked
the judge to be understanding.

I understand, but I also understand that I work nonstop with you
guys, Heath said. The highway patrol down there, they come to my
house 24-7. I am the judge they always come to. I'm the guy they come
to.

The trooper asked Heath to stop, but the judge cut him off.

Im not Mister Heath, he said. Im Judge Heath.

The judge was charged with driving under the influence, but he later
pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of reckless operation.

Heath did not return calls by News 5 for comment on this story.
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He must have been one tortured bastard.
 -----

- gpsman