MOUNT VERNON — According to Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher, Knox County Court of Common Pleas, Judge Otho Eyster sentenced six men and one woman for various felony crimes Thursday.
Homer D. Carpenter, 41, Danville, was convicted of two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, felonies of the third and fourth degree. Carpenter was sentenced to four years in prison and fined $5,000. Thatcher said on June 4 and 12, 2008, Carpenter sold morphine and oxycodone to an undercover informant working for the Danville Police Department.
Jerry T. Carpenter Jr., 46, Fredericktown, was convicted of two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, felonies of the fourth degree. Terry’s 17-month prison sentence was suspended while he serves a three-year term of community control supervision, including a 90-day jail sentence that starts immediately. Thatcher said on Sept. 3 and 12, 2008, Carpenter sold OxyContin to an undercover informant working for the DPD.
The Carpenter cases were investigated by Sgt. Tom Looney, DPD, with the assistance of Det. Serg. Jeff Jacobs, Detective Corp. Matt Dailey and Det. Craig Feeney, Mount Vernon Police Department, and special agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
Darby S. Vasbinder, 41, Howard, was convicted of her fourth impaired driving conviction since December 2005. Vasbinder was sentenced to a two- year prison term, fined $1,350 and her driver’s license was suspended for five years. Thatcher said on Dec. 8, 2008, Vasbinder failed the field sobriety tests administered by Officer Jessica Butler, MVPD.
Derek A. Showalter, 28, Mount Vernon, was convicted of illegal processing of drug documents and receiving stolen property. Showalter was sentenced to a 17-month prison term. Thatcher said on Aug. 19, 2008, Showalter gave a prescription to a pharmacist that he had altered from 16 to 160 Percocets. On Sept. 3, 2008, Showalter possessed a stolen 20-gauge shotgun. Detective Feeney investigated the illegal processing of drug documents case and Detective David McElroy investigated the stolen property case.
Tyler A. Shaw, 19, Mount Vernon, was convicted of burglarizing an apartment in Fredericktown, on Sept. 13, 2008, and of possessing a stolen 1997 Dodge Neon, on Sept. 26. Shaw was sentenced to a 17-month prison term. Patrolman Beau Ayers, Fredericktown Police Department, and Sgt. Troy Glazier, MVPD, investigated the cases.
Mark J. Kirk, 18, Mount Vernon, was convicted of two counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, felonies of the fourth degree. Kirk’s 17-month prison sentence was suspended while he serves a three-year term of community control supervision. While on supervision, Kirk must obtain mental health counseling, maintain full-time employment and obey a curfew. Thatcher said on July 29, 2008, Kirk videotaped a 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl engaging in sexual activity with two adult male co-defendants. Kirk was also classified as a Tier II sex offender, and he will be required to register his address information with the sheriff’s office for the next 25 years.
Brian L. Scurlock, 23, Centerburg, was convicted of breaking into a Centerburg pizza shop, on Feb. 1. Scurlock’s 11-month prison sentence was suspended while he serves a three-year term of community control supervision, including a 60-day jail sentence that starts immediately. Thatcher said initially the suspect in the break-in was unknown. But the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation obtained a positive DNA match when blood evidence collected from a broken window at the pizza shop was compared with other evidence collected from Scurlock by Detective Sgt. Gary Rohler, Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
