"A former public water system operator for Sebring in northeastern Ohio was charged on Wednesday with misdemeanor crimes for failing to notify the public about lead contamination in some tap water in the town, the state's attorney general said.

James Bates of Salem, Ohio, was charged with two counts of recklessly failing to provide timely notice of individual lead tap water results to affected consumers and failing to educate the public in a timely manner, according to a statement from the Ohio attorney general's office. All the charges are misdemeanors.

Bates has been summoned to court, a spokesman for the attorney general said."

Justin Madden reports for Reuters July 13, 2016. [2]