NEWS

Liz Rogers rejects plea deal - headed to trial

Michael D. Clark
mclark@enquirer.com

WEST CHESTER TWP. When former Cincinnati restaurateur and accused police impersonator Liz Rogers said "hell no," she meant it.

The deadline for Rogers to accept a plea deal on charges that she impersonated a police officer has passed with no response, say Butler County prosecutors.

"We have not seen any paperwork from her in regards to our offer. The deadline has passed and our intent is to go to trial," Brad Burress, assistant prosecuting attorney said Thursday.

Last month, Rogers' only public comment to The Enquirer after a hearing where prosecutors offered her a diversion program if she pleaded guilty was "hell no."

The deadline for Rogers accepting the plea deal was Tuesday.

Rogers' lawyer Clyde Bennett II did not respond to messages this week seeking comment.

Rogers' trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 12 in Butler County's Area III Court in West Chester Township.

In June, Bennett claimed Rogers turned down a plea deal from county prosecutors, but prosecutors contended a deal had only been discussed, not offered.

Rogers is accused of telling a repo man earlier this year she was a police officer. She is accused of displaying a Cleveland police badge when the worker tried to repossess her vehicle at a convenience store and gas station at Cincinnati-Dayton Road and Liberty Way in northern West Chester.

The incident occurred the same day in March the city of Cincinnati cut a deal with Rogers to forgive nearly two-thirds of her $300,000 city loan and agreed not to seek repayment of a $684,000 grant.

That money was used to start a restaurant,

Former Cincinnati restaurateur Liz Rogers has refused a plea deal on charges she impersonated a police officer. Rogers' trial is now scheduled to start in November in Butler County.

Mahogany's at The Banks, which closed last September when Rogers fell behind on loan and rent payments.

If convicted, the Liberty Township resident could face a maximum of 30 days behind bars. On the day she was arrested, Rogers filed a police report alleging the repo man stole $800 from her.

Bennett previously said Rogers gave the worker her wallet, which had her ID in it, in an attempt to defuse the situation. When the wallet was returned, the money was gone, Rogers said in the police report.