dangerous beauty queen criminal arrested for failing to pay $1 in city income taxes Original Article Police Arrest Woman For $1 In Unpaid Taxes Unfiled City Tax Forms Also Cited In Case POSTED: 4:57 pm EDT October 12, 2005 LOVELAND, Ohio -- A Tri-State woman was arrested after she didn't pay just more than $1 that she owed in income taxes, News 5's Brian Hamrick reported. Deborah Combs owed the city of Loveland $1.16 last year, but she also hadn't filed her city income tax forms in five years. She said officers pulled her over and acted as though she were a violent criminal. "One sheriff approached my car with his hand on his gun," she said. "Another from the other side of the car leaned in and said, 'Are you Deborah Combs?' He said, 'We have a warrant for your arrest.' I was absolutely shocked." Combs said she thinks the arrest and charges are over-the-top for the amount she owed. "What they've spent in stamps is more than what I owe," she said. She could also end up paying hundreds of dollars in fines for the unfilled tax forms, Hamrick reported. Loveland City Manager Fred Enderle said the amount Combs owes isn't the real issue. "Whether it's $1 they owe us or $1,000, it's not fair to the rest of the public to not pursue that person," he said. "There is some expense involved, but it goes back to the principle. We have laws. The laws have to be complied with. At what cost do you stop enforcing the law?" http://www.channelcincinnati.com/news/5241619/detail.html BATAVIA, Ohio -- A former beauty queen accused of owing just more than $1 in taxes pleaded not guilty to the charges against her, News 5's Jonathan Hawgood reported. Deborah Combs entered the plea Thursday morning in a Clermont County courtroom with the help of two Tri-State attorneys who agreed to take on her case pro bono. Loveland officials claims Combs did not filed her city income tax report for several years -- during which time she said she didn't have any reportable income -- and that she owed $1.16 last year. Prosecutor Joseph Braun said he wants a conviction, and he won't let Combs just pay out her fines, Hawgood reported. "We have to treat each resident in the city of Loveland equally, which means whether they owe $1,000 or $1.16 plus interest and penalties, we're going to pursue that," Braun said. Combs said that a conviction would limit her future job opportunities, and maintains that she filed the necessary documents. "I think it's become very high-profile," Combs said. "I think the city is very embarrassed by this, and I think they want to swat me down and teach me that I don't mess around with city hall." Taking the case to trial is a gamble for both sides, Hawgood reported. If the jury were to find Combs not guilty, the city might not see one red cent of what it claims Combs owes. But Combs financial records over the past several years are also subject to close scrutiny as the prosecutor investigates http://www.courttv.com/people/2005/1107/ohiotax_ap.html City officials drop charges against Ohio woman who owed $1.16 in city taxes LOVELAND, Ohio (AP) A woman accused of failing to pay a $1.16 tax bill is off the hook city officials dropped her criminal charges. Deborah Combs, 51, had pleaded innocent to misdemeanor charges of failure to file city tax returns and not paying late fees. She faced up to $4,000 in fines and 18 months in jail if convicted. But Mayor Brad Greenberg said Friday it wasn't worth spending thousands of dollars in legal costs. "The circus is leaving town," Greenberg said. "I will not allow our taxpayers to spend any further money prosecuting this case." Greenberg also waived $200 in late fees assessed against Combs. The City Council is expected to direct the city manager to dismiss the case at a Tuesday meeting. Combs, who has been mostly unemployed since 2000, didn't earn enough to file state and federal returns and said she believed she also didn't have to file city returns. But Loveland, about 20 miles northeast of Cincinnati, has a mandatory filing requirement. "This will really help me out a lot," Combs said. "I am down on my luck." http://www.wcpo.com/news/2005/local/11/04/tax.html Charges Over $1.16 Tax Bill Dropped The mayor of Loveland has asked the city to dismiss the tax case against Deborah Combs. However, Deborah Combs says there are many others in her situation and they don't plan on letting this situation rest until all the cases are resolved. Combs says she is very relieved after hearing the news that charges will be dropped against her. However, her attorneys say this is just a springboard to fight for changes in the tax code and enforcement.