Staff Reports

MARIETTA — On July 23, 2017, a Marietta Police patrolman did a U-turn in downtown Marietta to pull over a woman who committed a traffic violation. James G. Lake, 21, of Rural Route Two, Box 26, Ripley W.Va., saw the patrolman make the maneuver and thought he was trying to detain him.

The patrolman saw Lake accelerate away from the scene and began his pursuit of Lake instead of the original violator. The chase reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour and ended with a wreck in Parkersburg where their officers allegedly found drugs in the car.

Lake pleaded guilty to the four charges that the Washington County grand jury indicted him of on Tuesday. The charges were failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer (F3), operation or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property (MM), obedience to traffic control devices (MM) and operating a motor vehicle without a valid license.

Joe Derkin, assistant prosecuting attorney, said he wished all cases were as easy as this one.

“He just basically stood up and said that he got caught and was guilty,” Derkin said.

Lake received one-year confinement and a three-year license suspension. He is still awaiting charges in West Virginia.

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Other indictments from the grand jury Tuesday:

* Anthony D. Moore, 40, of 29839 State Route 7, Marietta, was indicted for allegedly escaping the Oriana House in Marietta on Jun. 28. Moore was serving a sentence for a robbery in Portage County in 2015. Moore was indicted for escape, a fourth-degree felony.

* Kami A. Hinzman, 39, of 2805 Birch St., 30, Parkersburg, was indicted for grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, and failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony. On Aug.21 she was a passenger in Rodney Beardsley’s 1984 Dodge truck. When Beardsley exited the vehicle to use the restroom, Hinzman allegedly stole his truck and fled from sheriff’s deputies until pulling over.

* Andreana Workman, of 702 Pike St., Marietta, was indicted for aggravated trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony, and soliciting, a third-degree misdemeanor. On Dec. 10, 2017 members of the Major Crimes Task Force set up a controlled buy from Workman. Allegedly Workman met the undercover officers and agreed to have sex for $300 and arranged to purchase two grams of methamphetamine and heroin each.

* William L. Schofield, 59, of 1717 15th St., Parkersburg, was indicted for failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony. Schofield failed to appear in court for a May 17 arrest where he was allegedly found passed out drunk on the Memorial Bridge.

* Eric J. Swihart, 33, of 118 Victory St., Parkersburg, was indicted for failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony. Swihart failed to appear at a suppression hearing that he requested on Oct. 1 about a case he has pending for allegedly trafficking in drugs.

* Edward “Pooh” Murphy Jr., 38, of 208 Brandy Drive, Marietta, was indicted on nine charges stemming from an arrest by the Major Crimes Task Force in April. On April 4 and 7, an officer allegedly made controlled buys from Murphy and executed a search warrant on April 16 at his home. Children, drugs and cash were found in the home and Murphy was charged with aggravated trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony, trafficking in heroin, a fourth-degree felony, trafficking in heroin within the vicinity of a juvenile, a third-degree felony, aggravated trafficking in drugs within the vicinity of a juvenile, a third-degree felony, possession of heroin, a fourth-degree felony, aggravated possession of drugs, a fourth-degree felony, tampering with evidence, a third degree felony, endangering children, a first-degree misdemeanor, and possessing of criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony.

* Corey D. Forshey, 26, of 815 Bender Road, Marietta, was indicted on four charges stemming from a Dec. 20, 2016 arrest by the Major Crimes Task Force. On that day officers allegedly purchased drugs from Forshey during a controlled buy. He was charged with two counts of trafficking in heroin, a fifth-degree felony, possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony, and possession of heroin, also a fifth-degree felony.

* Derek E. Petry, 38, of 260 Mechanics St., Macksburg, was indicted for the aggravated trafficking of methamphetamine. The charge stems from a controlled buy from the Major Crimes Task Force on June 27.

* Raymond E. Spears, 45, of 907 Neal St., Parkersburg, was indicted for failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony. The charge stems from missing his final pre-trial hearing on Oct. 25 for possession of methamphetamine.

* Tyrone A. Fry, 33, of 208 Upper 15 Mile Creek Road, Wingett Run Road, Bethel was at a party near his home when an altercation allegedly occurred between him and Terry Dunn and Gabriel Lamp. The pair were sitting in their vehicle and Fry allegedly rammed them with his vehicle doing minor damage before driving off. Allegedly he returned with his older brother, Homer Fry, 34, of the same address to confront the two men still in the vehicle. Homer Fry then allegedly rammed Dunn and Lamp’s vehicle and caused major damage. Both brothers were charged with two counts of felonious assault, second-degree felonies, and two counts of aggravated assault, fourth-degree felonies. Tyrone Fry was also charged with obstructing official business, a second-degree misdemeanor.

* Betty L. Wheaton, 79, of 1610 Hill St., Belpre was indicted on two counts of aggravated theft, third-degree felonies. Between January 2011 and January 2018, Wheaton allegedly took money from the Bethel Lighthouse Baptist Church. During that time the congregation began noticing that the money they thought they received through donations didn’t match the total the treasurer, Wheaton, told them they had. Along with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the congregation determined that $515,283.71 was missing.

* Robin J. Richards, 31, of 29385 East Belpre Pike Road, Coolville, was charged for breach of recognizance, a fourth-degree felony. Richards failed to appear for her final pre-trial hearing on Oct. 26. She is currently on trial for allegedly stealing a credit card in May.

* Samuel Damron, 42, of Marietta was charged with tampering of drugs, a third-degree felony, intimidation of a police officer, a third-degree felony, and petty theft, a first-degree misdemeanor. The charges stem from an Oct. 26 arrest where he allegedly shoplifted items from Wal-Mart in Marietta. Patrolmen from the MPD responded to the call and got Damron’s description from security footage. He was found at a nearby business and allegedly threatened the arresting officer. Suboxone was also allegedly found in his possession

* Joshua W. Fortney, 33, of 1902 Way Road, Belpre, was charged with two counts of domestic violence, fourth-degree felonies, felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and endangering children, a first-degree misdemeanor. On Oct. 21 deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic violence call at Fortney’s residence. Allegedly deputies found his wife severely beaten and his 8-year-old daughter had been dragged across the home by her hair.

* Marlon J. Garrison, 44, 4221 Oak Ridge Drive, Dayton, was charged with aggravated trafficking in heroin, a first-degree felony, and possession of heroin, also a first-degree felony. Allegedly an officer with the Major Crimes Task Force recovered over 52 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture from 139 Frederick St. in Marietta, where Garrison was staying.

* Christopher C. Griffin, 34, of 52301 Rye Road, Reedsville, was indicted on several charges stemming from three arrests this year. He was charged with receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony, two charges of aggravated possession of drugs, fifth-degree felonies, receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony, having weapons while under disabilty, a third-degree felony, and receiving stolen property, a third-degree felony. The three arrests were on Feb. 8, March 31 and Oct.1 of this year. All three arrests stemmed from Griffin allegedly being involved with the theft of three vehicles.

* Brandon M. Tallhammer, 20, of 2737 Leading Creek Road, Big Spring, W.Va., was indicted for improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, and carrying a concealed weapon. During a traffic stop by the Belpre Police Department, Tallhammer allegedly was found with a loaded revolver and brass knuckles in his possession.

* Sunshine L. Chapa, 34, of 106 Beckel Lane, Marietta, was charged with possession of drugs. The charges stem from an arrest for a previous warrant by the Noble County Sheriff’s Office. Noble County was transporting Chapa to the Ohio State Highway Patrol when the patrolman allegedly found a class four narcotic on Chapa’s person.

* George N. Parsons, 44, of 11 Tanya Ave., Parkersburg, was charged with failure to comply with order or signal of police officer, a third-degree felony, and operating a vehicle under the influence. The charges stem from an Oct. 12 high speed chase that started in Parkersburg and ended in Athens County. Parsons pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to one year confinement for the failure to comply and three days for driving under the influence.

* Timothy L. Howell, 29, of 41 Dunn Lane, New Matamoras was indicted for burglary, a fourth-degree felony, and criminal damaging, a first-degree misdemeanor. On Oct. 7 deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from a resident in Grandview Township that their home was allegedly being broken into by Howell.

* Justine M. McIntyre, 22, of 261 Deevers Fork Road, Elizabeth, W.Va., was indicted for failure to comply with order or signal of police officer, a third-degree felony, tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and operating a vehicle under the influence. The charges stem from an Oct. 5 arrest by the OSHP where McIntyre was driving north on I-77 at a high rate of speed and refused to pull over. Allegedly she swallowed rocks of methamphetamine after the stop.

* Eric D. Yoho, 31, of 1466 Cave Hill Road, Little Hocking, was indicted for assault on a peace officer, a fourth-degree felony, and resisting arrest, a second-degree misdemeanor. The charges stem from a Sept. 22 arrest by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office where deputies responded to a call of domestic violence at Yoho’s residence. While he was being arrested, Yoho allegedly got into a physical altercation with them.

* Dashawn L. Young, 42, of 1090 Hilton Drive, Reynoldsburg, was indicted for aggravated trafficking of drugs, a second-degree felony, aggravated possession of drugs, a second-degree felony, aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony, aggravated trafficking of drugs, a third-degree felony, tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. The charges stem from an Oct. 12 arrest by the Major Crimes Task Force on the 100 block of Grove Street.

* Phillip D. West Jr., 31, of 107 Hickory St., Powhatan Point, was indicted for abusing harmful intoxicants. The charges stem from an Oct. 5 arrest on the 200 block of Hillcrest Drive by the Marietta Police Department. Patrolmen found West allegedly acting intoxicated and in possession of an air duster can.

* Arron E. Lasure, 38, of 517 Front St., New Matamoras was indicted for theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, and receiving stolen property, also a fourth-degree felony. A 2017 Chevy truck was reported stolen and was found crashed near Archers Fork Road. Lasure was found near the vehicle and was arrested.

* Stephen R. Neff, 44, of 5595 State Route 37, Malta, was indicted on two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fourth-degree felonies. On April 7, 2017, Neff was pulled over by MPD in the parking lot of Wendys on Muskingum Drive. He allegedly blew over the legal limit and was charged with the felonies due to three prior arrests for OVI.

* Joy Jo Headly, 40, her boyfriend Jason S. Slonaker, 39, both of 316 Main St., New Matamoras, were each charged with trafficking in drugs, a second-degree felony, two charges of weapons under disability, third-degree felonies, receiving stolen property, a first-degree misdemeanor, and endangering children, a first-degree misdemeanor.

* Travis L. Sailing, 28, of 24530 McVicker Road, Summerfield, was indicted for robbery, a second-degree felony, grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony, and assault, a first-degree misdemeanor.

* Harold D. Angus, 41, of 4081 Veto Road, Vincent, was indicted for obstructing official business, a fifth-degree felony, and illegal conveyance of drug of abuse onto the grounds of specified governmental facility, a third-degree felony.

* Michael Atkinson, 37, of 24761 Brimstone Road, Coolville, and Jeremy Cremeans, 32, 1545 Camp Hervida Road, Waterford, were both indicted for burglary, a third-degree felony, and theft, a fifth-degree felony.