Mental illness cited in nudity case
Attorney of accused says 'serious illness' may have 'caused the very conduct charged in this case'.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
HAMILTON — A pre-disciplinary hearing is slated for Wednesday morning for an assistant Hamilton law director charged with public indecency.
On Monday Scott Blauvelt, 35, was charged with two fourth-degree misdemeanors in connection with incidents authorities said occurred on separate nights. Blauvelt has worked for the city of Hamilton since last March, according to personnel records.
Extras
The Butler County Sheriff's office said a court services deputy checking closed circuit security monitors allegedly saw Blauvelt walking nude on the county's side of the building at about 10 p.m. Thursday. Further investigation found that cameras on Hamilton's side of the building allegedly captured Blauvelt walking in the nude on Wedneday as well.
Blauvelt was seriously injured in 2005 after his car slammed into a telephone pole near Liberty, Ind. According to reports from Local 12, authorities who reported to the crash scene in Indiana said Blauvelt was nude at the time of the accident.
On Tuesday, a letter signed by Blauvelt's attorney, Michael T. Gmoser, indicated that several factors, including mental illness, may have "caused the very conduct charged in this case."
In the letter, Gmoser wrote:
"The charges against Scott Blauvelt are neat and tidy. Mental illness seldom is, which seems to be a fact overlooked by those who have rushed to judgement against him. They seek to punish this individual for having a very serious and persistent illness exacerbated by a severe brain injury a little over a year ago, the loss of a child by miscarriage last week, and seizures controlled by medications that caused the very conduct charged in this case.
"In spite of his limitations, Scott Blauvelt has been a loyal, dedicated and hard working employee of the City of Hamilton who deserves — as do all those similiarly challenged with disabilities — compassion and understanding which so far seems to be missing," the letter further stated. "Scott Blauvelt is an American with a disability and just as there are laws that have been hurriedly applied to punish him in a most public way, so too are there laws that hopefully will protect him and his family before it's too late."
Hamilton Law Director Hillary Stevenson said Tuesday she "was not able to talk about" issues related to Blauvelt's mental health.
Today's hearing is set for 9 a.m., she said.
"Employees... have the right to a conference or hearing to offer up information or an explanation for violations of work place rules," she said. "That's what we'll be doing tomorrow."
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2186 or lbernard@coxohio.com.



