Judge rules for former naked prosecutor

HAMILTON, Ohio, July 3 (UPI) -- A Hamilton, Ohio, judge has ruled the city's rationale for firing an assistant city prosecutor who was caught walking around naked was incorrect.

Scott Blauvelt, 36, was videotaped by security cameras walking around the Government Services Center naked on two occasions and was charged with two counts of public indecency in September 2006, the Hamilton (Ohio) Journal-News reported.

Even though the charges were dismissed on a technicality, Blauvelt was fired by the city, which cited his status as an unclassified employee.

However, Judge Thomas Nurre ruled that the city's charter classifies Blauvelt's former job as a classified civil service position.

Michael Gmoser, a lawyer for Blauvelt, said the ruling allows his client to have a Hamilton Civil Service Commission hearing into whether his firing was appropriate. The city has 30 days to appeal Nurre's decision.

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