Jerome Kearns replaces Jeff Centers at Butler Co Childrens Servi - 19 Action News|Cleveland, OH|News, Weather, Sports

Children's Services gets new director after basement case

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Jerome Kearns (Source: Butler County Job and Family Services) Jerome Kearns (Source: Butler County Job and Family Services)
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HAMILTON, OH (FOX19) -

The Butler County Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to appoint a new director of Butler County Children's Services.

The former director, Jeff Centers, is currently on paid administrative leave after officials discovered several errors were made in the Middletown case involving a father and step-mother who allegedly locked their 12-year-old daughter in a basement.

Jerome Kearns, who is the current director of Butler County Job and Family Services, is now also the Director of Children's Services, effective immediately.

Joanna and Shawn Blackston, the couple involved in the basement case, have pleaded not guilty. They are scheduled to go to trial on Nov. 12.

FOX19's Cory Stark will have more on this story on the FOX19 Evening News at 6:30 p.m.

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