For Immediate Release: December 7, 2001

Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Announces New Appointments

(Columbus) --- Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) Director Reginald A. Wilkinson today named three new wardens, one warden transfer and an acting warden. “We are losing several outstanding and experienced wardens to the Early Retirement Incentive,” said Wilkinson. “Their successors have the experience and talent to lead their respective prisons during these challenging times.” The wardens will take their new positions on December 31, 2001.

David Bobby, 35, Deputy Warden of Operations at the Ohio State Penitentiary (OSP) will replace Arthur Tate, Jr. as warden of the Belmont Correctional Institution in St. Clairsville. Bobby started working for DRC in 1993. He held the positions of warden’s assistant and deputy warden at Ohio’s “super-maximum security” prison in Youngstown. Bobby holds a degree in Criminal Justice from Youngstown State University. Bobby will be replacing Tate, 53, who began his career in corrections as a social worker at the Lebanon Correctional Institution (LECI) in 1969. During his tenure with DRC, Tate also served as warden at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution (CCI) and the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF) in Lucasville.

James Erwin, 39, Deputy Warden of Operations at the Orient Correctional Institution (OCI) will serve as acting warden during the deactivation of OCI. Erwin holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Louisville and began his career with the Department in 1996 as an institutional inspector. Warden Robert Beightler, 51, is retiring after thirty years with the Department, beginning his career as a corrections officer at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. He also served as the chief of security and a deputy warden at two different institutions.

Gordon Lane, 51, will replace John D. Morgan as warden of the North Central Correctional Institution (NCCI) in Marion. Lane came to corrections in 1991 as Chief of Audits. He has served as deputy warden of administration at NCCI and Deputy Warden of Administration and Special Services at the Franklin Pre-Release Center. Lane attended Central State University and Hunter College in New York. He has a degree in Economics from the Ohio State University. Morgan, 56, began his career as a psychologist at the Marion Correctional Institution (MCI) in 1969. In addition to NCCI, he served as warden at the Corrections Medical Center in Columbus.

James S. Haviland, 41, current warden at the Allen Correctional Institution (ACI) in Lima, will replace Warden Harold Carter at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility. Haviland began his career as a social services worker at the Lima Correctional Institution in 1985. He served as a deputy warden at both the Lima and North Central Correctional Institutions before being tapped to serve as ACI’s warden in 1999. Haviland holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the Ohio State University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Ashland University. Carter, 57, is retiring from SOCF after working his way up to warden from the position of corrections officer at CCI in 1971.

Jesse Williams, 35, will replace Haviland as warden at ACI. Williams started his correctional career as a corrections program specialist at the Lorain Correctional Institution in 1990. Since 1997, he has served as deputy warden at the Mansfield Correctional Institution. Prior to working at DRC, Williams was a youth leader at the Indian River School for the Department of Youth Services. Williams has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Bluffton College.

Wilkinson also named Brigid Slaton as Adult Parole Authority Regional (APA) Administrator for Cincinnati. Slaton, 38, began her career in parole as a secretary in the Dayton APA office in 1987. She became a parole officer in 1988 and was promoted to Regional Services Coordinator for Cincinnati in 1996. Slaton, a Licensed Social Worker and Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor, holds a Masters Degree in Education Social Agency Counseling from the University of Dayton. Slaton replaces Evelyn Watson, 60, a 24-year APA career professional who retired earlier this year.

For more information please contact the DRC Public Information office at (614) 752-1150.