MOUNT VERNON — On Friday, Common Pleas Court Judge Otho Eyster sentenced nine men for various crimes, according to Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher.

Warren B. Taylor, 32, Mount Vernon, was convicted of stealing checks, possessing stolen checks, and theft of firearms by deception. Between July 21 and Aug. 4, Taylor passed bad checks totaling more than $7,000, and bought two handguns with a bad check. Taylor was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay $8,490.55 in restitution to the victims. Detective Craig Feeney, Mount Vernon Police Department, investigated the case.

Beau Ashley, 28, Mount Vernon, was convicted of burglary and felonious assault for entering a residence, after midnight on July 7, and striking a woman over the head with a flashlight. Thatcher said the woman was transported to a Columbus hospital for treatment of the head injury she sustained. Ashley was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay $165 in restitution to the victim. The case was investigated by Detective Sgt. Gary Rohler and Sgt. John Rine, Knox County Sheriff’s Office.

Billy J. Maynard, 52, Centerburg, was convicted of his sixth OVI charge in 20 years for 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 Maynard was under the influence of alcohol, and he arrested Maynard after Maynard failed the field sobriety tests. Maynard was sentenced to 17 months in prison and his driver’s license was suspended for 10 years. In addition, Eyster ordered Maynard to pay a mandatory $1,350 fine.

Andrew M. John, 24, Mount Vernon, was convicted of aggravated assault for biting the lip off of a male acquaintance on March 29. The victim suffered a severe laceration to his lower lip, requiring numerous stitches and treatment by a plastic surgeon. Thatcher said John was sentenced to a three-year term of community control supervision, 60 days in the Knox County Jail, and was ordered to pay $5,286.60 in restitution to the victim.

Further, John must successfully complete drug and alcohol assessment, treatment and monitoring. John will serve a 17-month prison term if he fails to comply with the conditions of his supervision. Patrolman Tim Arnold, MVPD, responded to the call and investigated the case.

Christian M. Clifton, 34, Mount Vernon, was convicted of biting Sgt. William Shaffer, KCSO, when Clifton was being booked into the Knox County Jail for misdemeanor charges on June 24. Thatcher said Clifton bit Shaffer’s arm hard enough to break the skin and draw blood. Clifton was sentenced to a three-year term of community control supervision and 60 days in the Knox County Jail.

Further, Clifton was ordered to obtain and maintain full-time employment, as well as successfully complete drug and alcohol assessment, treatment and monitoring. Clifton will serve a 17-month prison term if he fails to comply with the conditions of his supervision.

Michael D. Ronk, 40, Mount Vernon, was convicted of illegal cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana. On Aug. 31, Rohler and other officers of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Ronk’s Sycamore Road residence, where they found a sophisticated indoor marijuana growing operation. Thatcher said Ronk was sentenced to a three-year term of community control supervision and a mandatory six-month driver’s license suspension. Ronk must also pay a $5,000 fine.

Further, Ronk was ordered to obtain and maintain full-time employment, as well as successfully complete drug and alcohol assessment, treatment and monitoring. Ronk will serve an 11-month prison term if he fails to comply with the conditions of his supervision. Officers from the Central Ohio Drug Task Force and Mount Vernon Police Department assisted with the investigation.

Steven R. O’Neal, 35, Columbus, was convicted of failing to provide adequate financial support for his children. Thatcher said that between April 1, 2006, and April 1, 2008, O’Neal made no child support payments although the Knox County Child Support Enforcement Agency was able to determine that he was employed during that time.

Eyster sentenced O’Neal to a three-year term of community control supervision, 14 days in the Knox County Jail, and ordered him to pay $28,869 in restitution to the Child Support Enforcement Agency. Further, O’Neal was ordered to obtain and maintain full-time employment. O’Neal will serve an 11-month prison term if he fails to comply with the conditions of his supervision.

Nicholas D. Fanning, 23, Cleveland, was convicted of trafficking in marijuana for selling marijuana in a Gambier apartment to a confidential informant working for the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation was conducted by Rohler, Detective Roger Brown and Detective David Light, KCSO. Fanning was sentenced to a one-year term of community control supervision, a mandatory six-month driver’s license suspension and was ordered to undergo and successfully complete drug and alcohol assessment, treatment and monitoring.

Further, Fanning was ordered to forfeit $340 to the KCSO. If Fanning fails to comply with the conditions of his supervision, he will be sentenced to 11 months in prison.

Jamie J. Johnson, 32, Danville, was convicted of stealing a credit card and forging the owner’s signature on a credit card approval slip on July 13. Johnson was sentenced to six months in prison. Deputy Tom Durbin, KCSO, investigated the case.