Butler County prosecutor Steve Tolbert, who had been hired specifically to prosecute obscenity cases, retired at the end of February and his mission has seemingly retired with him.
Butler County’s Prosecutor’s Office newest prosecutor, Glen Rossi, started his job Monday, but it’s a different job than Tolbert held.
“He’s not in charge of everything the same as Steve was in charge of. He won’t be taking the role Steve had identically,” Prosecutor Robin Piper, the elected official in charge of the Prosecutor’s Office, told the Hamilton Journal News.
Tolbert, who retired Feb. 27, was the head of the Special Litigation Unit, where he oversaw the child exploitation and obscenity, white collar crime and child assault divisions. Tolbert later became the overall chief of the criminal division.
When Tolbert was hired by Piper in 2001, he was announced as the head of an obscenity task force with a budget of $200,000 a year, a portion of which was provided Citizens for Community Values (CCV), an anti-porn group.
“I have nothing but high praise for Steve Tolbert and Robin Piper for the job they have done,” said CCV President Phil Burress told the Hamilton Journal News when Tolbert retired. “They know if I didn’t like the job they’re doing I say that. This time around, praise is deserved.”
Burress had initially criticized Tolbert for not obtaining even a single indictment against any adult businesses. Tolbert picked up his pace in 2002, persuading a Marriott Hotel in West Chester to stop offering porn – or face prosecution.
Most recently Tolbert prosecuted an obscenity case against adult retailer Pik-Kwik that resulted in a plea bargain; Pik-Kwik payed a small fine and promised not to sell obscene material.
Tolbert had also convicted a number of people involved in child pornography.
Prior to his tenure at Butler County, Tolbert was a prosecutor in Hamilton County, where he lost an obscenity case against Elyse Metcalf, owner of Elyse's Passion.
Also while in Hamilton County, Butler prosecuted a case against Larry and Jimmy Flynt that resulted in the plea bargain that set the ground for the Flynt’s current legal problems there.
Tolbert had a 30-year career prosecuting cases in Ohio and, at least for the moment, is looking forward to retirement.
Piper restructured his organization after Tolbert retired, basically eliminating the role of the head Special Litigation Unit. Rossi will assume some of Tolbert’s duties, but will also handle others as the restructuring of caseloads affects the entire office.
No reason was given for the restructuring. The obscenity task force has not been specifically declared over, but no replacement has been named either.
