In the Courts

Washington County Grand Jury issues indictments

MARIETTA -- Co-defendants were indicted on charges of complicity to commit attempted perjury and complicity to commit tampering with evidence among other charges by a Washington County Grand Jury Wednesday.

Jessica Dawn Ball, 36, 747 Tuttle St., Belpre, was allegedly complicit in several crimes from Oct. 2020 to Sept. 30, 2023 and was charged with three third-degree felony counts of complicity to commit sexual battery, endangering children, and complicity to commit tampering with evidence; one fourth-degree felony count of complicity to commit attempted perjury; and two fifth-degree counts of identity fraud and obstructing justice.

Jonathan Edwin Wharton, 39, 743 Tuttle St., Belpre, was also allegedly complicit in several crimes with Ball from October 2015 to Sept. 30, 2023 and was charged with one second-degree count of pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person; three third-degree counts of gross sexual imposition, sexual battery, and complicity to commit tampering with evidence; and two fourth-degree counts of pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person and complicity to commit attempted perjury.

Additional information was not immediately available Wednesday evening.

Twenty-one other defendants were indicted.

* Patrick Dean Worstell, 39, 29725 State Route 7, Marietta, was indicted on charges of trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, possession of a fentanyl-related compound, aggravated possession of drugs, all third-degree felonies; two counts of aggravated possession of drugs, both fifth-degree felonies, and unauthorized use of a vehicle, a misdemeanor of the first-degree, from April 15.

* John W. Hoy, 46, 302 Walnut St., Belpre, was indicted on charges of theft and passing bad checks, both fifth-degree felonies, from June 2020. The property or services stolen were valued at $2,890.

* Christopher Allen Wright, 46, last known address 319 N. Main St., Pleasantville, was indicted on a charge of failure to appear as required by recognizance, a fourth-degree felony from Nov. 8.

* Alphonso Lorenzo Howard, 33, no known address and goes by the alias "T", was indicted on a charge of failure to appear as required by recognizance, a fourth-degree felony from Dec. 2022.

* Stacy Adam Bennett, 57, 270 McCormick Hill Rd., New Matamoras, was indicted on a charge of failure to appear as required by recognizance, a fourth-degree felony from Aug. 4.

* William Howard Brannan, 38, 1424 Virginia St., Belpre, was indicted on charges of rape, a first-degree felony, and sexual battery, a third-degree felony from Aug. 2018 to Nov. 2023.

* Kole Murrey Robert Caldwell, 24, 1413 Beckett Ave., Cambridge, was indicted on charges of receiving stolen property, a fifth-degree felony, from Nov. to Dec. 2022.

* Jamie Lynn Smearman, 42, 117 Morningside Dr., Marietta, was indicted on charges of trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, both first-degree felonies; aggravated trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony; trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs, both fifth-degree felonies; and two counts of possession of drugs, first-degree misdemeanors, from June 26 and 27.

* Christopher Paul Cook, 33, 116 Longacre St., Marietta, was indicted on charges of aggravated trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs, both third-degree felonies, from June 1.

* Destinee Patience Farnsworth, 27, 307 Maple St., Marietta, was indicted on a charge of receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony, from Oct. 12.

* Karissa Marie Porter, 33, 38 Fair Ave., Beverly, was indicted on a charge of passing bad checks, a fourth-degree felony, from Aug. 2022 to May 2023. The monetary amount from the passing of bad checks amounted to $8,700.

* Brittany Jean Collins, 30, 4001 4th Ave., Vienna, was indicted on a charge of grand theft, a fourth-degree felony, from Oct. 2022 to April 2023. The amount of the grand theft was $15,740.07.

* Morgan Wyatt Tippie, 27, 2650 Braun Rd., Belpre, was indicted on charges of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fifth-degree felony, two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them, a first-degree misdemeanor, and failure to comply with opened container or beer or liquor laws, a minor misdemeanor, from October 21.

* Andrew Brooks Beaver, 42, 331 E. Spring St., Marietta, was indicted on a charge of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, from July 2022.

* Matthew David Cremeans, 21, 113 Warren Ave., was indicted on charges of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and assault, a first-degree misdemeanor, from Oct. 23.

* Hillire John Dalton, 52, last known address 508 Sixth St., Marietta, was indicted on a charge of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, from Oct. 24.

* Ernest Wade Boley, 45, 236 Robinson Hill Rd., Marietta, was indicted on charges of grand theft and receiving stolen property, both fourth-degree felonies, from March to May 2022.

* Edward Ray Conley, 58, 212 Oakwood Ave., Marietta, was indicted on charges of aggravated possession of drugs and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, both fifth-degree felonies, from Sep. 2023.

* Tyree D'Sean Jefferys, 31, 940 Lakewood Blvd., Akron, was indicted on charges trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, both first-degree felonies, from Sep. 17.

* Paul Anthony Wallace II, 32, homeless, was indicted on charges of possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a third-degree felony, and petty theft, a first-degree misdemeanor, from Apr. 2022.

* Vernon G. Tunstall, III, 34, 125 East 156th St., Cleveland, was indicted on charges of aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony, and four counts of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, from June 2020.

Gretchen Dowler can be reached at gdowler@newsandsentinel.com