MOUNT VERNON — Indictments were returned in 10 cases on Feb. 2 by a Knox County grand jury. Arraignments are scheduled for Feb. 20 at 9 a.m., in the Knox County Court of Common Pleas before Judge Otho Eyster.
According to Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher, Matthew L. Hearock, 19, and Dustin J. Whaley, 18, both of Groveport, face charges of aggravated possession of drugs and aggravated trafficking in drugs. Thatcher said that at about 8 p.m. on Jan. 9, Hearock and Whaley allegedly sold 100 Ecstasy pills to a confidential informant working for the Mount Vernon Police Department. Ecstasy is a Schedule I controlled substance that in this case allegedly contained Benzylpiperazine, commonly referred to as “BZP” according to Thatcher. The investigation was conducted by Detective Cpl. Matt Dailey, detectives Craig Feeney and David McElroy.
Billy J. Maynard, 51, Centerburg, faces his sixth OVI charge in 20 years for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. According to Thatcher, at about 11 p.m. on Jan. 20, Trooper Morris Johnson, Ohio State Highway Patrol, was dispatched to a one-vehicle crash on County Road 25 near the intersection at Township Road 123. Johnson suspected that Maynard was under the influence of alcohol, and he arrested Maynard after Maynard failed the field sobriety tests.
Ayman N. Musleh, 44, Galena, was indicted for possession of cocaine. Thatcher said that at about 10 p.m. on Jan. 23, Patrolman Kyle Theibert, MVPD, stopped Musleh’s vehicle at the intersection of Coshocton Avenue and Vernedale Drive for suspected impaired driving. During a search incident to Musleh’s arrest for OVI, Theibert found a baggie containing a white powdery substance in Musleh’s front pants pocket. The white powdery substance allegedly tested positive for cocaine, according to Thatcher.
David M. Braga, 21, Hamilton, was indicted for importuning, two counts of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, and three counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor. Thatcher said the indictment is the result of an investigation conducted by Detective Tom Bumpus, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, involving a 16-year-old Knox County girl who allegedly met Braga via the Internet. Bumpus was assisted by Detective Mark Henson of the Hamilton Police Department.
Two men in separate incidents face vandalism charges for allegedly causing damage in excess of $500 to government property. Lee A. Martin, 32, Danville, is charged with damaging a Danville Police cruiser when he was arrested on Jan. 7. Thatcher said Martin allegedly broke out the cruiser’s rear window with his head.
Martin is also accused of recklessly assaulting investigator Sgt. Tom Looney for allegedly injuring Looney’s right hand. Looney was hurt while attempting to restrain Martin to prevent him from injuring himself or doing further damage to the cruiser, Thatcher said.
On Jan. 24, Jeremiah L. Leist, 26, Mount Vernon, allegedly destroyed a telephone and damaged the stainless steel table top and window in a visitation booth at the Knox County Jail.
On Jan. 21, Patrolman Justin Trowbridge, MVPD, responded to a burglary complaint on Chestnut Street, where the resident advised that someone had entered the residence and removed an entertainment center, furnishings and other household items. Trowbridge determined through investigation that John D. Blankenship, 26, Mount Vernon, was the burglary suspect. Blankenship now stands accused of burglary, according to Thatcher.
David R. Scott Jr., 34, Danville, is accused of stealing a 32-inch television from a local department store on Dec. 20, 2008. The value of the television exceeds $500, according to Thatcher. After receiving an anonymous tip, Detective Feeney and investigator Sgt. Tom Looney, DPD, recovered the allegedly stolen television at Scott’s residence on Millersburg Road.
On Sept. 28, 2007, Anna Marie Leslie, 42, Newark, allegedly wrote an unauthorized $1,500 check from her employer’s business account and forged her employer’s handwriting on the check. Detective Dave Light and Deputy Dan Selby, KCSO, investigated the case.