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Thread: Roger Allen Curtis Gets Life Sentence in 2011 OH Slaying of James Xidas

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    Roger Allen Curtis Gets Life Sentence in 2011 OH Slaying of James Xidas


    82-year-old James Xidas




    A Clinton County grand jury Wednesday handed up an 11-count indictment containing death penalty specifications against Roger Allen Curtis, accusing him of murdering the well-liked owner of the Manhattan Lounge.

    Curtis is charged in connection with a March 29 early-morning stabbing in or near the downtown Wilmington bar that 82-year-old James Xidas owned for more than 40 years.

    The 11 counts include three counts of aggravated murder each carrying a specification, two counts of aggravated robbery, three counts of kidnapping, and one count each of breaking-and-entering, petty theft and theft.

    The indictment document has at least two new specific allegations. The sixth count alleges that “on or about the 29th day of March, 2011,” Curtis trespassed in the Manhattan Lounge, “an unoccupied structure” with the purpose of committing theft or a felony there.

    And the 11th and final count alleges that the 39-year-old Curtis “with prior calculation and design” purposely caused the death of Xidas.

    Clinton County Prosecuting Attorney Richard W. Moyer said Wednesday evening that claiming premeditation does not entail claiming that a plan was devised days ahead of time.

    Also included in the court document is a detail that alleges Curtis took cash and cigarettes for which the combined value is less than $500.

    For the record, all three aggravated murder counts allege Curtis purposely caused the death of Xidas.

    Curtis could be eligible for the death penalty if a jury finds him guilty of a death-penalty specification, Moyer said previously.

    Xidas’s wife found him bleeding in his car at 5:39 a.m. March 29. He died later that day at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton from stab wounds.

    http://www.wnewsj.com/main.asp?Secti...ticleID=189684

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    Administrator Heidi's Avatar
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    Defense experts authorized in murder case

    In the local death penalty case involving murder suspect Roger Allen Curtis, the judge on Wednesday authorized state public defenders to retain a forensic psychologist, a mitigation expert and a criminal investigator.

    Curtis is charged with aggravated murder in connection with a March 29 early-morning repeated stabbing of 82-year-old James Xidas in or near the Manhattan Lounge, a downtown Wilmington bar the well-liked Xidas owned for more than 40 years.

    Wednesday’s hearing in Clinton County Common Pleas Court was Curtis’ first since he plead not guilty May 19 to all charges during an initial courtroom appearance after being served an 11-count indictment containing death penalty specifications.

    Both the mitigation specialist and the defense investigator who were authorized by the court Wednesday are Ohio Public Defender’s Office employees.

    The defense psychologist, Dr. Robert Stinson, is an “experienced forensic psychologist” who has time to devote to the case, said Ohio Public Defender William J. Mooney.

    For the psychologist, Clinton County Common Pleas Judge John W. Rudduck authorized an expenditure of up to $10,000, to be billed at no more than $175 an hour. Reasonable expenses were also authorized.

    An expenditure of up to $5,250, to be billed at no more than $35 an hour, was authorized for the defense mitigation specialist. A mitigation specialist looks for factors that potentially make a crime or an offender more fathomable and thus make the penalty less grave.

    The judge authorized an expenditure of up to $700, at no more than $35 per hour, for a defense investigator.

    In all three instances, the Board of Clinton County Commissioners will receive the bill at the close of the proceedings. The defense attorneys were directed to supervise and monitor the experts’ hours.

    There will be reimbursement to Clinton County for about 30 percent of the cost for the three defense experts, according to Rudduck.

    At the previous hearing, Curtis waived his right to a speedy trial through Oct. 31, 2011. On Wednesday, he extended that waiver through Feb. 29, 2012.

    The next court hearing — on any motions for oral argument or presentation of evidence — is scheduled for Oct. 26.

    After Wednesday’s hearing, Clinton County Prosecuting Attorney Richard Moyer was asked about the nearly five-month interval between hearings.

    “It’s a death penalty case. Certain motions have to be filed; it’s not your normal case. That’s pretty much a fast track for a case like this, to be truthful about it,” Moyer said.

    Also Wednesday, the state of Ohio, as represented by the Clinton County Prosecutor’s Office, formally relinquished control over the crime scene — the Manhattan Lounge and parking lot — to the owners entitled to possession.

    Moyer indicated the prosecutor’s office will provide everything that’s in its case file at this time to defense counsel except for grand jury testimony.

    If there is a jury trial in the case, it probably will occur in January or February 2012, Rudduck said from the bench.

    Xidas’s wife Katherine found him bleeding in his car at 5:39 a.m. March 29 in the parking lot of the Manhattan Lounge. He died later that day at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton from stab wounds.

    In the May 19 hearing, Moyer said the coroner testified that Xidas’ body had at least 50 stabbing cuts.

    Prosecutors previously have said they have an admission from Curtis that he killed Xidas.

    http://www.wnewsj.com/main.asp?Secti...ticleID=190021

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    Suspect in Xidas murder back in court

    Court proceedings resume today in a capital murder case stemming from the March stabbing death of 82-year-old James Xidas, the well-liked owner of the Manhattan Lounge in downtown Wilmington for more than 40 years.

    The main purpose of today’s Clinton County Common Pleas Court hearing is expected to be “procedural,” Clinton County Prosecuting Attorney Rick Moyer said Tuesday.

    The talk, much of which may occur in judge’s chambers, will revolve around “how to go forward with the case,” said Moyer.

    Murder suspect Roger Allen Curtis will be in the courtroom for the death penalty case, accompanied by attorneys from the Ohio Public Defender’s Office.

    Possible trial dates might be selected Wednesday, said Moyer.

    If there is a jury trial in the case, it probably will occur in January or February 2012, Clinton County Common Pleas Judge John W. Rudduck said in June from the bench.

    Xidas’s wife Katherine found him bleeding in his car at 5:39 a.m. March 29 in the parking lot of the Manhattan Lounge. He died later that day at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton from stab wounds.

    In a May court hearing, Moyer said the coroner testified that Xidas’ body had at least 50 stabbing cuts.

    Prosecutors previously have said they have an admission from Curtis that he killed Xidas.

    The indictment paperwork against Curtis alleges that “on or about the 29th day of March, 2011,” Curtis trespassed in the Manhattan Lounge, “an unoccupied structure” with the purpose of committing theft or a felony there.

    The indictment also alleged the 39-year-old Curtis “with prior calculation and design” purposely caused the death of Xidas.

    Curtis is alleged to have taken cash and cigarettes for which the combined value is under $500.

    Curtis could be eligible for the death penalty if a jury finds him guilty of a death-penalty specification, Moyer said previously.

    http://www.wnewsj.com/main.asp?Secti...ticleID=193868

  4. #4
    Senior Member CnCP Legend JLR's Avatar
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    A local man will spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of a Wilmington businessman who was well known in his community. Roger Allen Curtis pleaded guilty today to charges of aggravated murder, kidnapping, aggravated robbery, breaking and entering, as well as theft.
    Investigators say he killed James Xidas in March near the Manhattan Lounge in downtown Wilmington. Xidas had owned the business for more than 40-years.

    The judge sentenced Curtis to life in prison without the possibility of parole. By pleading guilty, he avoids a possible death sentence, which he could have faced had his case gone to trial.

    http://brilyuhnt.com/city_system/new...n-businessman/

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