Ten of 19 people hired today as guards for the new Butler County Prison are related to county employees, including two judges.

But Prison Warden Rich Gigliotti said he wasn't pressured by any courthouse or government official and recommended for hire "those who I believe to be the best qualified for the job."

The guard positions pay about $14.10 an hour plus benefits.

Each of the three commissioners acknowledged yesterday they initially had refused to sign off on the prospective hiring of Olima Yeager, wife of Common Pleas Judge Michael Yeager, and Anita Vicari, sister-in-law of Common Pleas Judge Timothy McCune.

At the commissioners' direction, Chief Clerk Bill O'Donnell said he told the warden that the commissioners had "concerns for (Mrs. Yeager's and Ms. Vicari's) safety" because of their relationship to the judges.

Mr. O'Donnell said he was told in response that everyone on the hire list already had been promised employment. So, two of the commissioners, Dale Pinkerton and Jim Lokhaiser, relented and voted in favor of the full hire list.

Mr. O'Donnell acknowledged during yesterday's meeting that one of the new hires, Evan Long, is the son of a cousin. But he said he was not listed as a reference and had no knowledge that the second-cousin even intended to apply for county employment.