Ohio judge was source of suspect’s psychiatric evaluation; reporter won’t be arrested

Ohio judge was source of psychiatric evaluation

CLEVELAND — An Ohio judge has learned that a colleague allowed a newspaper reporter to see a psychiatric evaluation on a Cleveland man accused of killing 11 women.

Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH’-guh) County Common Pleas Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold said Wednesday that Judge Timothy McGinty called her and said he had allowed a reporter at The Plain Dealer to see the report. The report concluded Sowell was unlikely to assault women after he finished a prison term for attempted rape.

Saffold has backed off a threat to arrest the journalist, Gabriel Baird. Saffold had ordered Baird be arrested after he missed a Tuesday hearing to find out his source.

McGinty was attending a family funeral and could not be reached for comment Wednesday. A message was left at his office.