MOUNT VERNON — Indictments were returned in nine cases on March 2 by a Knox County Grand Jury. Arraignments are scheduled for March 13 in the Knox County Court of Common Pleas before Judge Otho Eyster.
According to Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher, Rodney D. Zeune, 42, Mount Vernon, allegedly issued three bad checks to a Mount Vernon business on July 21, Sept. 16 and Oct. 14 last year totaling almost $93,000. Thatcher said the checks were issued for gasoline delivered to Zeune’s business. Detective Cpl. Matt Dailey, MVPD, investigated the case.
Bruce A. Jones II, 27, Mount Vernon, was indicted on counts of felonious assault and aggravated assault for allegedly shooting a 28-year-old Mansfield man with a .357 magnum revolver. The alleged shooting occurred on Smith Street shortly after midnight on Feb. 21.
Jones, the victim and two other men had been involved in an altercation before the alleged shooting. It has been determined through an investigation conducted by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office that Jones was the only armed participant in the fight, and he fired his gun when the victim and the other men were attempting to leave. The victim was lifeflighted to a Columbus hospital, but he has since been treated and released, according to Thatcher.
The indictment also carries specifications alleging that Jones used a firearm in the commission of the offense. Thatcher said the specifications could add time to a prison sentence if Jones is convicted. Detective Dave Light, Detective Sgts. Gary Rohler and Roger Brown, and Capt. Richard Brenneman investigated the case.
Maxwell C. Butcher, 18, Mount Vernon, is accused of gross sexual imposition for allegedly having sexual contact with a 2-year-old boy on Feb. 23. Detective Sgt. Brown investigated the case.
Zebadiah W. Parker, 26, Howard, faces charges of illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana and endangering children. Thatcher said shortly after midnight on Jan. 27, the KCSO executed a search warrant at Parker’s home. Deputies seized marijuana plants, grow lights and other items commonly used in indoor marijuana grows. The evidence was allegedly found in two basement rooms. The endangering children count of the indictment alleges that Parker conducted the indoor marijuana grow when two children were present in the residence. Rohler, Brown and Light investigated the case.
Melissa J. Barre, 38, Loudonville, is accused of stealing drugs and falsifying drug documents on five occasions last April, as the result of an investigation conducted by the Ohio Board of Nursing and the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy. Thatcher said Barre allegedly stole medications prescribed for her patients and then falsified records of those prescriptions when she was employed as a registered nurse at a Mount Vernon health care facility.
Surveillance video allegedly shows John K. Pringle, 39, breaking into a Mount Vernon laundry at 6 a.m. on Dec. 25, 2008, and then removing approximately $800 from a coin machine. Pringle is charged with breaking and entering. Detective Craig Feeney, Mount Vernon Police Department, investigated the cases.
Trent L. Craig, 37, Shad W. Lynds, 36, and Charles M. Shannon, 32, all of Mount Vernon, are accused of possessing merchandise stolen from a Mount Vernon hardware store on Jan. 28. Thatcher said witnesses saw the men removing two snow blowers, two radiant heaters and one kerosene heater from a dumpster near the store and then load the allegedly stolen items into a pickup truck. The value of the brand new merchandise exceeds $1,000. Feeney investigated the cases.
