18 indicted by grand jury

MOUNT VERNON — Eighteen indictments were handed down by a Knox County grand jury on Monday. Arraignments are scheduled for Dec. 18 in the Common Pleas Court before Judge Otho Eyster.

According to Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher, Lester A. Moore, 37, Marengo, was indicted on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and marijuana. On the night of July 4, Moore was traveling westbound on Sparta Road near Fredericktown, on a Honda Shadow motorcycle. Connie Fyffe, 38, was his passenger. Moore allegedly failed to negotiate a curve, slid off the road and overturned the motorcycle ejecting both occupants. Fyffe was seriously injured and died on Aug. 1 as the result of the injuries she sustained in the crash. Thatcher said tests conducted at the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s crime lab revealed Moore allegedly had a blood alcohol level of 0.128 at the time of the crash. Moore allegedly tested positive for marijuana, as well.

Vicci L. Sapp, 45, Danville, was also indicted on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol for allegedly causing the death of Angela R. Heldenbrand, 41, on Nov. 14. Thatcher said at approximately 1:30 a.m., Sapp was eastbound on U.S. 62 near Danville, driving her Chrysler Sebring convertible. Heldenbrand was Sapp’s passenger. Sapp allegedly struck and barrel rolled over a guardrail ejecting Heldenbrand from the vehicle during the collision. Dr. Jennifer Ogle, Knox County Coroner, pronounced Heldenbrand dead at the scene. According to the indictment, the level of alcohol in Sapp’s breath was 0.184, and she had a prohibited concentration of alcohol in her urine. Sapp also allegedly failed all of the field sobriety tests administered by OSHP.

On Oct. 29, Robert W. Lively, 44, Mount Vernon, allegedly struck several vehicles on North Sandusky Street with his white pickup truck. Several Mount Vernon Police Department officers attempted to stop Lively, but he allegedly ran from them and struck part of a house and other vehicles on Jefferson Street. Thatcher said after driving through several yards, Lively finally crashed his truck into a tree on South Harrison Street. A blood test later revealed Lively was allegedly driving with a blood-alcohol level of .338.

Ronald B. Dumont, 45, Mount Vernon, faces his sixth charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol in 20 years as the result of allegedly driving under the influence on Nov. 5. Thatcher said Dumont is also charged with refusing to submit to a chemical test for alcohol after being asked to do so by MVPD.

Kelly R. Bessette, 46, Mount Vernon, is accused of illegal cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana. On Oct. 29, at approximately 10 p.m., the Knox County Sheriff’s Special Response Team executed a search warrant at a residence on Big Run Road. Bessette was allegedly found there in a room with 34 marijuana plants growing in pots under fluorescent lights. SRT officers allegedly found a second room with 32 marijuana plants, and equipment commonly used in cultivating marijuana indoors was found throughout the house.

On Sept. 25, an OSHP traffic stop on Columbus Road eventually led to the discovery of an alleged indoor marijuana growing operation in a Howard Street residence. After Cole R. Hauger, 25, Mount Vernon, was pulled over for a traffic violation, Laughlin found “hydro rocks” in Hauger’s vehicle. Thatcher explained that “hydro rocks” are commonly used in indoor marijuana growing operations. Thirty-five marijuana plants, individual bags of harvested marijuana, grow lights, other equipment and more “hydro rocks” were allegedly found in Hauger’s residence during a search conducted by OSHP and MVPD officers. Hauger is charged with illegal cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana.

Shawn P. Davern, 22, Mount Vernon, was allegedly found in possession of 1.2 grams of crack cocaine during a traffic stop on Columbus Road on June 27.

On eight occasions between November 2008 and April 2009, Joseph E. Ford, 48, Mount Vernon, allegedly obtained prescription drugs under false pretenses. Thatcher said on Nov. 9, a KCSO deputy received information that Ford allegedly altered a prescription that he attempted to fill at a local pharmacy. Through investigation, the KCSO determined Ford obtained prescriptions from numerous doctors, primarily for Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, without telling the doctors he already had prescriptions for the same drugs. Ford is charged with eight counts of deception to obtain dangerous drugs.

James A. Lyons, 37, Danville, is accused of rape and gross sexual imposition. Thatcher said on several occasions between August 2007-08, Lyons allegedly engaged in sexual activity with two girls, ages 10 and 14.

Shane P. Hansen, 18, Fredericktown, and Keith C. Brandenburg, 24, Mount Vernon, are charged with failing to provide change of address notifications to the sheriff’s office. Both men are convicted sex offenders. Thatcher said Hansen was convicted of gross sexual imposition in Franklin County in 2007, and Brandenburg was convicted of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in Knox County in 2008.

Justin E. Brown, 24, Mount Vernon, is charged with breaking and entering for allegedly breaking into a Coshocton Road store on Aug. 1 and 15, and again on Nov. 9. Brown is also charged with safecracking for allegedly stealing money from the store’s safe. Brittney N. Taylor, 22, Mount Vernon, is accused of complicity in the commission of breaking and entering for allegedly aiding and abetting Brown during the break-ins. Taylor is also charged with corrupting a minor with drugs for allegedly using heroin while breastfeeding her 2-year-old child, according to Thatcher.

Andrew D. Wilson, 31, Mount Vernon, faces a theft of a firearm charge for allegedly stealing an 8mm rifle from a Catherine Street residence on Nov. 9. Wilson allegedly admitted to MVPD that he stole the rifle to trade it for drugs.

Jessica R. Bayless, 22, Mount Vernon, allegedly passed a forged check at a Mount Vernon grocery store on Sept. 5. Thatcher said the check was allegedly stolen. Bayless is accused of forgery and possessing a stolen check.

Mary A. Miller, 35, Baltic, is charged with extortion for allegedly blackmailing a 55-year-old Utica area man out of $40,000 on March 14. Thatcher said Miller allegedly told the man she would pay some of the $40,000 to the owner of a certain privately owned Web site to remove allegations from the Web site that the man had sexually abused several children.

According to their indictments, Andrew C. Hinkle, 21, and Geoffrey S. Hinkle, 23, Mount Vernon, were both convicted of failing to confine vicious dogs Sept. 11 by the Mount Vernon Municipal Court. On Nov. 17, both men allegedly failed to confine their pit bulls. Thatcher explained that the previous convictions make the current allegations felonies.