Grand jury returns 15 indictments

MOUNT VERNON — Fifteen indictments were handed down by a Knox County grand jury, on Monday. Arraignments are scheduled for March 12 in the Common Pleas Court before Judge Otho Eyster.

According to Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher, Michael L. Wallace, 22, is accused of felonious assault for allegedly breaking J-Ro Sharp’s left arm. Sharp required surgery to repair the fracture. Thatcher said that on Jan. 9, Wallace was incarcerated in the Knox County Jail on a probation violation charge; Sharp was in jail on felony charges. Sharp allegedly asked Wallace to break his arm because Sharp believed he would be released from jail to receive medical treatment. Sharp, 25, is charged with complicity in the commission of felonious assault for allegedly soliciting Wallace’s violation of the felonious assault statute.

On Feb. 3, Thomas H. Hartless, 36, and Gerald Jackson were incarcerated in the Knox County Jail. Hartless allegedly punched Jackson in the face. Jackson required surgery to repair a broken nose. Hartless was indicted on a charge of felonious assault. Capt. Richard Brenneman, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the Wallace, Sharp and Hartless cases.

Josiah E. Thomas, 21, is accused of felonious assault for allegedly stabbing a 28-year-old male victim in the leg during an argument. Thatcher said that at about 10 p.m. on Feb. 25, Patrol Officer Jessica Butler, Mount Vernon Police Department, was dispatched to the victim’s Sugar Street residence. Butler found Thomas outside the residence hiding behind a parked car. Butler removed a still opened folding knife from Thomas’ pocket when she arrested him. The victim required nine staples to close the knife wound.

On Feb. 6, Brian D. Jose, 27, Mount Vernon, was arrested for a traffic violation. Several items found in Jose’s vehicle allegedly matched the description of property stolen from a Columbus Road residence. Detective Sgt. Roger Brown, KCSO, learned through investigation that Jose allegedly broke into the residence using a crow bar and then stole two video game systems. Jose is charged with burglary, possession of stolen property and possession of criminal tools for allegedly using the crow bar during the break-in.

According to the indictment, Jaryd J. Young, 34, Mount Vernon, was convicted of a misdemeanor offense of violence involving a family member in Delaware County Municipal Court in 2000. Thatcher said that at about 4:35 p.m. on Dec. 27, 2009, Patrolman Jason Payne, MVPD, responded to a call at Young’s residence, where Young allegedly assaulted his live-in girlfriend. The current domestic violence charge is a felony of the fourth degree due to the prior misdemeanor conviction, according to Thatcher.

According to the indictment, Diana M. Bricker, aka Paques, 51, was convicted of felony domestic violence in Knox County Common Pleas Court in 2005. Thatcher said that at about 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 4, Patrolman Matt Haver, MVPD, responded to a call at Paques’ residence, where Paques allegedly assaulted her daughter. The current domestic violence charge is a felony of the third degree due to the prior felony domestic violence conviction, according to Thatcher.

Amy M. Slanina, 30, Fredericktown, was indicted on charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen checks, possession of a stolen credit card, misuse of the credit card and forgery. Thatcher said that on Feb. 8, the 79-year-old alleged victim reported to Patrolman Charles Marmet, Fredericktown Police Department, that Slanina took her 1997 Ford Taurus, a credit card and several blank checks without permission. On the same day Slanina allegedly forged two of the stolen checks and cashed them for $600, and she charged items on the stolen credit card.

On Feb. 18, the car was found parked at a motel in Pennsylvania, where Slanina was found and arrested. Slanina is awaiting transportation back to Knox County to face the charges. Thatcher said the age of the alleged victim enhances the degree of the felonies charged in the indictment. Chief Jerry Day, FPD, assisted with the investigation.

Christopher L. Vance, 25, Centerburg, is accused of possessing a stolen license plate. Thatcher said that at about 8 p.m. on Feb. 3, Patrolman James Dechant, MVPD, stopped Vance’s Chevrolet Blazer on Madison Street because the stolen plate was affixed to the rear of the Blazer and the plate on the front was registered to a Camaro. The owner of the stolen license plate filed a police report on Jan. 12, right after picking up his vehicle from a garage in Mount Vernon. Vance worked at the garage at the same time the plate was stolen. The Ohio Revised Code makes it a felony of the fifth degree to steal or possess a stolen license plate, according to Thatcher.

William D. Fox, 28, is charged with possessing stolen checks and complicity in the commission of forgery and theft. Thatcher said that at about 4 p.m. on Nov. 27, 2009, Fox allegedly stole a woman’s purse in the parking lot of a Mount Vernon grocery store. The purse contained three books of blank checks and a credit card. Fox and Tony E. Frazee, 42, left the parking lot in the same vehicle and then allegedly cashed one of the stolen checks, in the amount of $1,000, at a bank in Fredericktown. Frazee faces the same possessing stolen checks charges and charges of theft, forgery and theft by deception. Frazee is in the Knox County Jail; Fox is being held in the Richland County Jail on other charges. Detective Dave McElroy, MVPD, investigated the case.

John M. Hagans, 47, and Ashley St. John, 25, Howard, face theft and forgery charges for allegedly withdrawing $1,450 from a savings account without the permission of the accountholder. Thatcher said that on seven occasions between Feb. 3 and Feb. 16, Hagans and St. John allegedly forged the victim’s signature on withdrawal slips to make unauthorized withdrawals. Deputy James Ferenbaugh and Detective Sgt. Gary Rohler, KCSO, investigated the case.

On Feb. 12, Angel D. Caldwell, 26, Columbus, allegedly received $2,000 for a $1,000 money order by deceiving the store clerk who cashed the money order. Caldwell faces a theft charge. Detective Craig Feeney, MVPD, investigated the case.

Karen S. Cimilluca, 62, Blacklick, is accused of theft of drugs and deception to obtain dangerous drugs. Thatcher said that between March 20 and Nov. 20 of last year, Cimilluca allegedly stole drugs from the hospital where she was employed as a nurse. Cimilluca is accused of falsifying hospital records to cover up the thefts. Agent Tim Fulk, Ohio Board of Nursing, investigated the charges and referred the investigation to Detective McElroy for prosecution. Thatcher said Cimilluca surrendered her nurse’s license on Nov. 20 pending further action by the State Board of Nursing.

Shannon N. Thorpe, 36, Frazeysburg, was indicted on charges of deception to obtain a dangerous drug, forgery and theft of drugs. Thatcher said that on Dec. 21, 2009, Thorpe allegedly forged a signature on a pharmacy signature log in order to obtain an Alprazolam prescription that belonged to someone else. Thorpe allegedly admitted to Detective Feeney that she used the prescription for herself.