MOUNT VERNON — The Ohio Attorney General’s office is steadfast in its efforts to prosecute two Centerburg men for charges of contributing to the unruliness/deliquency of a minor — regardless of which court hears the case.
Charges were filed in August against Donald Bailey, 20, and Samuel Thatcher, 19, in Mount Vernon Municipal Court. A plea deal was agreed to in early September and accepted by visiting Judge Stuart K. Miller. Miller recused himself from the two cases last week because he said he was not aware of all the details when he agreed to the deal. The cases are currently in a continuance until a new judge can be assigned by the Ohio Supreme Court.
The Ohio Revised Code gives exclusive jurisdiction to adults charges with contributing to the unruliness/delinquency of a minor.
“We are holding these two individuals accountable for violating the law and will continue to do so,” said Ted Hart, spokesperson for the Ohio Attorney General’s office. “The Mount Vernon Municipal Court approved their guilty pleas on Sept. 2, and if there are determined to be any jurisdictional issues with the court, there would be no bar for us filing the same charges with the Knox County Juvenile Court and presenting our same recommendation for jail time as part of the ultimate sentence handed down by the court.”
Hart told the News the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification became involved after the Knox County Sheriff’s Office asked for assistance in the investigation. A special prosecutor was brought in upon request of Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher.
