MOUNT VERNON — On Friday, Judge Otho Eyster in the Knox County Court of Common Pleas sentenced eight men for various felony crimes and a violation of community control supervision, according to Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher.
Patrick M. LaBenne, 41, Bellville, was convicted of five counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor. LaBenne was sentenced to a 15-month prison term and classified as a Tier II sex offender with a 25-year registration period. Thatcher said on June 8, 2007, five files containing child pornography were discovered on LaBenne’s home computer. Officer John Priest, New Albany Police Department, discovered the violations through an Internet investigation and Detective Sgt. Robert Durbin, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, seized the computer pursuant to a search warrant.
Scott A. Draper, 42, Fredericktown, was convicted of deception to obtain dangerous drugs and sentenced to 15 months in prison. Thatcher said on Oct. 1, 2007, Draper filled a prescription for Oxycodone that overlapped a prior Oxycodone prescription without the knowledge of his treating physicians. Sgt. Tom Durbin, KCSO, investigated the case.
On June 30, 2008, at about 4:45 p.m., the KCSO seized approximately 80 growing marijuana plants and other items commonly used to grow marijuana at the residence of George R. Bird Jr., on Thayer Road, Mount Vernon. Bird was convicted of illegal cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana and sentenced to a three-year term of community control supervision. Bird’s 11-month prison sentence will remain suspended if he complies with the conditions of his supervision including a mandatory drug and alcohol assessment and monitoring. Bird’s driver’s license was also suspended for six months. Det. Sergeant Gary Rohler, Detective Roger Brown and Det. David Light, KCSO, investigated the case.
Chase E. Wells, 23, Mount Vernon, was convicted of possession of cocaine. Wells’ 11-month prison sentence will remain suspended while he serves a three-year term of community control supervision. The conditions of Wells’ supervision include a 90-day jail sentence that starts immediately, he must successfully complete a six-month term at the Licking/Muskingum Community Correctional Center and his driver’s license was suspended for six months. Patrolman Matt Jones, Mount Vernon Police Department, found cocaine in Wells’ pants pocket when Wells was arrested for a probation violation, on March 2.
David L. Boyd, 20, Mount Vernon, and Richard L. Johnson, 24, Howard, were convicted of unlawful sexual conduct with minors. Both men were sentenced to a three-year term of community control supervision. Boyd will serve a 60-day jail sentence and Johnson will serve a 90-day jail sentence. Both men were classified as Tier II sex offenders with 25-year registration periods. Thatcher said Boyd was convicted for engaging in sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl, on Dec. 27, 2007, and Johnson was convicted for engaging in sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl, on May 5, 2005. Deputy Tim Light and Detective Tom Bumpus, KCSO, investigated Boyd’s case, and Detective David Light, KCSO, investigated Johnson’s case.
David L. Doyle, 24, Mount Vernon, was convicted of receiving stolen property for possessing camera equipment stolen from his former employer, on May 7. Doyle was also convicted for stealing $592 from his former employer’s safe and $41 from a co-worker’s purse. Sgt. Fred Gerber, MVPD, investigated the case. In a separate case, Doyle was convicted of possessing a stolen antique .22 caliber handgun, on May 23. Deputy Tim Light, KCSO, investigated the case.
On April 23, 2007, Roger A. Legg, 21, Mount Vernon, was convicted on theft charges and sentenced to a three-year term of community control supervision. Legg’s 11-month prison sentence was suspended while he served a 120-day jail sentence and completed a six-month term at the Licking/Muskingum Community Correctional Center. Friday, Legg admitted to violating the terms of his community control supervision by consuming alcohol and Xanax, on Sept. 24. Legg was sentenced to serve the remainder of his original sentence, 39 days in jail. Patrolman Scott McKnight, MVPD, conducted the theft investigation.
