MOUNT VERNON — Knox County Common Pleas Court Judge Otho Eyster sentenced eight people for felony convictions and violations of community control supervision terms.
According to Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher, Christi D. Durfee, 23, Mansfield, was sentenced to serve two years in prison for attempted robbery. On March 17, Durfee attempted to steal a purse from a 75-year-old woman outside of a Mount Vernon shopping center. Durfee ran when a bystander intervened to help the woman. Cpl. Beth Marti, Mount Vernon Police Department, investigated the case.
Chad A. Cheever, 37, Knox County Jail, was convicted of aggravated assault in separate cases. Cheever seriously injured a man during an altercation in a motel room on Sept. 20, 2008, and on July 10, he assaulted another inmate at the Knox County Jail. Cheever received a 17-month prison sentence for the offenses. Detective David McElroy, MVPD, investigated the incident at the hotel, and the jail staff investigated the second case.
Mysaiah L. Bray, 24, was sentenced to a five-year prison term for aggravated robbery. Thatcher said on June 13, Bray robbed and assaulted a 32-year-old man on McKinley Street. Patrolman Raymond Jones and Detective David McElroy, MVPD, investigated the case.
Timmy B. Browning, 28, was sentenced to a four-year prison term for burglarizing a Mount Vernon residence with two other male suspects on Oct. 15, 2006. Three years ago the identity of the suspects was unknown, but in 2009 the Knox County Sheriff’s Office was notified that Browning’s DNA matched DNA evidence collected at the crime scene. Thatcher said Browning’s DNA profile is in a state database because he has been incarcerated in an Ohio prison. Browning was also ordered to pay $4,400 in restitution to the crime victims. Detective David Light investigated the case.
Dane E. Ferenbaugh, 28, Mount Vernon, pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted escape and was sentenced to 17 months in prison. Thatcher said Ferenbaugh waived the right to have the case against him presented to a grand jury, and he admitted he failed to maintain contact with his parole officer, William Baer.
John M. Hagans, 47, and Ashley St. John, 25, Howard, were convicted of theft and forgery charges for withdrawing $1,450 from a savings account by forging the victim’s signature on withdrawal slips to make six unauthorized withdrawals in February. Hagans and St. John were sentenced to three-year terms of community control supervision including 35-day jail sentences. Each will pay half of the restitution owed to the crime victim. Thatcher said 11-month prison sentences will be imposed if Hagans or St. John violate the terms of their supervision. Deputy James Ferenbaugh and Detective Sgt. Gary Rohler, KCSO, investigated the case.
On Feb. 12, Aaron N. Taylor, 32, Mount Vernon, was convicted of aggravated possession of drugs and sentenced to a three-year term of community control supervision including a 90-day jail sentence. Taylor admitted he violated the terms of his supervision earlier this month when he associated with persons who have criminal backgrounds and he tested positive for opiates. Eyster imposed Taylor’s previously suspended 11-month prison sentence, with credit for the 90 days Taylor served in jail.
