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Washington County grand jury indicts 25

MARIETTA — Twenty-five individuals were indicted by a Washington County Grand Jury this month, including four individuals accused of money laundering and theft from the elderly.

Anita J. Pauley, 26, Nicole M. Kurtz, 32, Brian D. Brown, 51, and Barbara Giulliano, 53, were renting a Lower Salem home, 9645 State Route 821, in January and December of last year when they allegedly convinced their landlord, Marilyn Mills, 84, that Kurtz had cancer.

“They told Mills they needed help with Nicole’s co-pays and treatments and she wrote checks out to them,” said Assistant Washington County Prosector Amy Graham.

In total, the checks amounted to $255,709.86.

“But that’s just in trackable checks, that’s not including cash she gave them,” said Graham. “She also took out loans to help them out. The money laundering comes in because when they said Nicole was in the hospital they were out gambling at casinos.”

All four are being held in the Washington County Jail, and face the following indictments:

* Complicity to commit theft from an elderly person, a first-degree felony.

* Theft from an elderly person, a third-degree felony.

* Money laundering, a third-degree felony.

* Engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a first-degree felony.

Giulliano was also indicted on one count of possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony, for using photos of Kurtz in the hospital from 2016 to deceive Mills throughout 2017.

Brown is accused of stealing $147,498, Kurtz is accused of stealing $49,327.86, Pauley is accused of stealing $34,034 and Giulliano is accused of stealing $24,850.

Another four co-defendants also face indictments concerning the trafficking of a cocktail of drugs, including methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine.

Justin R. Schroeder, 36, of 304 Kenwood Ave., Marietta, Alicia D. Miller, 34, of 9534 State Route 60, McConnelsville, Jacob K. Rowe, 26, homeless, and Brittany M. Wheeler, 27, of 450 Wittekind Road, Marietta, were each indicted for their connection to a Nov. 7 execution of a search warrant at the Red Roof Inn in Marietta.

Schroeder, seen as the ring leader and an alleged major player in the drug trafficking scene in the area, faces twice as many counts as the rest, including the following:

* Aggravated trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony.

* Possession of fentanyl, a fifth-degree felony.

* Trafficking in cocaine, a fifth-degree felony.

* Possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony.

* Aggravated trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony.

* Possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.

* Three counts of corrupting another with drugs, all second-degree felonies.

* Illegal conveyance of drugs onto grounds of a detention facility or institution, a third-degree felony.

* Possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony.

* Possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.

* Possession of fentanyl, a fifth-degree felony.

* Trafficking in methamphetamine, a fourth-degree felony.

“The first six counts are from Nov. 7, when the search found all four in the hotel with the drugs with the intent to distribute,” said Assistant Prosecutor Joe Derkin. “Then the corrupting charges come from the drugs he was selling because he sold this as just heroin when it was fentanyl so the others overdosed and had to be brought back by first responders. So he’s causing serious physical harm by furnishing their drugs.”

The final charge of trafficking in methamphetamine stems from a Nov. 29 arrest after Schroeder allegedly sold meth in a controlled buy supervised by the major crimes task force.

Schroeder also faces a separate indictment for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and possession of drug abuse instruments, a first-degree misdemeanor.

While under arrest on Dec. 23 for an outstanding warrant Schroeder allegedly had in his possession less than a gram of methamphetamine, hypodermic needles and syringes.

“Having him off the street would benefit the community,” said Derkin.

Miller, Rowe and Wheeler were also indicted for the following:

* Aggravated trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony.

* Possession of fentanyl, a fifth-degree felony.

* Trafficking in cocaine, a fifth-degree felony.

* Possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony.

* Aggravated trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony.

* Possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.

Other indictments:

* Co-defendants Simon B. Shuster, 19, of 20727 Frostyville Road, Caldwell, and Jordan B. Mincks, 21, of 225 Main St., Macksburg, were each indicted on two charges of improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony.

Shuster was also indicted for underage consumption, a first-degree misdemeanor, and Mincks was also indicted for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The pair were pulled over by Ohio State Highway Patrol on I-77 for a traffic violation near mile post 17 but were allegedly found traveling with a loaded shotgun and rifle.

“And Jordan Minks, who was driving, admitting to smoking (marijuana),” noted Derkin.

* Denise Malone, 48, of 632 Virginia St., Marietta, was indicted for theft of drugs, a fourth-degree felony.

Malone is accused of stealing prescription medications from Donna Balachowski, an aquaintence, in February of 2017.

* Levi M. Kuhn, 24, of 1328 Lancaster St., Marietta, was indicted for possession of methamphetamine, a third-degree felony, possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony, and possession of alprazolam, a first-degree misdemeanor.

In a traffic stop in November 2016 by the Marietta Police Department, Kuhn was allegedly found in possession of more than three grams of meth, 1.5 grams of heroin and prescription alprazolam (Xanax).

* Alontae S. Brown, 24, of 132 Kent St., Beckley, W.Va., was indicted for possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

Brown was found in possession of 0.68 grams of cocaine hydrochloride after a traffic stop by the Ohio State Highway Patrol on Pike Street in February 2017.

*Charles E. Haught III, 34, of 2460 Pleasant Ridge Road, Marietta, was indicted for one count of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

Haught stands accused of possession of 1.3 grams of methamphetamine on July 28, 2017 after Washington County Sheriff’s deputies responded to possible gunshots at his home.

* Denna Lott, 37, of 1914 30th St., Parkersburg, was indicted for aggravated trafficking in drugs, a second-degree felony, aggravated possession of drugs, a second-degree felony, trafficking in LSD, a fifth-degree felony, possession of LSD, a fifth-degree felony, aggravated trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony, aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony.

“She was stopped by Ohio (State) Highway Patrol in October of 2016 near mile post 17 on I-77 and had five times the bulk amount of meth, LSD, psilocyn (mushrooms) and had a loaded handgun in her purse,” noted Washington County Prosecutor Kevin Rings, adding that in criminal indictments the hallucinogenic LSD is not quantified because of the various forms in which the drug can be administered.

* Martin D. Gibbs Jr., 30, whose last known address was 805 Front St., Marietta, was indicted for failure to provide notice of change of address, a fourth-degree felony.

“He is a registered sex offender who in October walked away from a halfway house and violated the terms of his post release control by not notifying the Washington County Sheriff’s Office of his change of address,” said Graham. “He was on post release control for a 2010 conviction of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.”

* Richard C. Flood, 52, of 204 Ferry St., Beverly, was indicted for disrupting public service, a fourth-degree felony.

“Between late October and Dec. 21, 2017 he called the sheriff’s office dispatch 368 times and they were never for emergencies,” noted Derkin. “Thereby (he was) holding up valuable time of the dispatchers having to respond to calls all over the county.”

* Kattie A. Graham, 35, of 330 Gilman Ave., Marietta, was indicted for domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony.

Graham is accused of striking her husband in the face while trying to steal a television set to sell for drugs on Nov. 24, 2017.

* Kevin M. Hess, 30, of 240 Putnam Place, Apt. 11, Marietta, was indicted for theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony.

Hess is accused of stealing David Cottrill’s Chevy Silverado on Dec. 18. Cottrill is the father of Hess’s ex-girlfriend.

* Scott A. Shankland, 48, of 401 Marion St., Marietta, was indicted for tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.

In connection with his August indictment for breaking and entering, Shankland stands accused of trying to dispose of methamphetamine on a spoon in his possession after gaining knowledge that law enforcement had launched an investigation on him in July. Law enforcement allegedly found traces of that drug when they searched Shankland’s home.

* Justin A. Simpson, 29, of 309 Harmar St., Marietta, was indicted for burglary, a second-degree felony, having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony, and receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony.

Simpson allegedly stole a gun, knives and other items from the home of Lawrence Dawson Jr., in Marietta on Dec. 27, while Dawson was gone in the early morning hours for medical treatment.

Simpson has a prior conviction of trafficking in drugs from 2010 and was not permitted to possess a weapon.

* Frederick G. McKitrick, 35, of 125 County Road 9, Marietta, was indicted for two counts of domestic violence, both fourth-degree felonies.

McKitrick is accused of striking Tabitha Way, in December and this month on the 13th. He also has a conviction of domestic violence from 2013.

* Jay E. Lucas, 44, of 573 Southland Cemetery Road, Cutler, was indicted for having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony, aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor, domestic violence, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree misdemeanor, and felonious assault, a second-degree felony.

Graham explained that Lucas was in an argument with his wife in August 2015 when he began waving a loaded gun around.

“He has a prior conviction of trafficking drugs from 2010 so was not allowed to have that weapon let alone shoot it,” she said. “He said the gun accidentally went off but she’s lucky it barely missed her head, had it hit her it would have killed her.”

When law enforcement arrived they also found, upon execution of a search warrant, 0.13 grams of cocaine allegedly belonging to Lucas.

* Gabrielle Rhoton, 22, whose last known address was 2568 Layman Road, Vincent, was indicted for aggravated theft, a fifth-degree felony.

Rhoton allegedly stole checks from her mother, Barbara Carter, while living with her in Vincent.

Rhoton was reportedly with someone looking to cash one of those checks at a credit union in Belpre when the bank became suspicious and called Carter, who said the checks were not authorized.

* William J. Carter Sr., 33, of 405 Fifth St., Marietta, was indicted for domestic violence, a third-degree felony, and disrupting public service, a fourth-degree felony.

Carter is accused of a fifth bout of domestic violence. He has four prior convictions, and during the incident in November of last year he allegedly stopped a juvenille in the home from calling for help.

“He broke the wireless phone and so she fled to a neighbor’s house where a phone call was made for assistance,” said Rings.

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