MOUNT VERNON — A Mount Vernon man faces aggravated vehicular homicide charges following an accident a year ago that took the life of a passenger in the vehicle he was driving.
According to Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher, Calib M. Lang, 27, was indicted Monday on aggravated vehicular homicide and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol charges for allegedly causing the death of the 24-year-old female passenger in the car he was driving, on Feb. 4, 2010.
Thatcher said Lang is accused of driving recklessly for attempting to pass two vehicles in a no passing zone, traveling approximately 80 miles per hour, and of driving under the influence for having a blood alcohol level of 0.144. The vehicle Lang allegedly operated hit an oncoming truck and crashed into a guardrail on Ohio 3, west of Mount Vernon. Sgt. J.A. Burkhart, Ohio State Highway Patrol, conducted the crash investigation.
John M. Stidham, 44, Walhonding, was indicted on six counts of Receiving Stolen Property and one count of Insurance Fraud. Thatcher said the allegedly stolen property includes a diesel pickup truck, a motorcycle, a rifle and two shotguns. Sheriff’s officers recovered the property at Stidham’s residence pursuant to a search warrant, on Nov. 9, 2010. The Insurance Fraud charge alleges that Stidham made a false or deceptive claim to his insurance company when he made a claim, on March 19, 2010. Detective Sgt. Roger Brown and Detective David Light investigated the case.
The new charges against Stidham are in addition to the three counts of receiving stolen property, one count of insurance fraud and one count of complicity in the commission of aggravated theft charges filed against him in December.
Joseph M. Worley, 33, Centerburg, allegedly broke into a gas station in Martinsburg, on Jan. 9 at approximately 2 a.m., and stole approximately 40 cartons of cigarettes. Thatcher said Worley drove away in a 1997 Ford Thunderbird, but he later abandoned the vehicle in a ditch and fled into the woods near Bell Church Road. A Licking County K-9 unit found Worley hiding in the woods where he was arrested by Knox County Sheriff’s Deputies. Worley is accused of breaking and entering and receiving stolen property because the Thunderbird was stolen, according to Thatcher. Deputies Ryan Burgess, Kevin Durbin, Scott Baker and Detective Doug Turpen handled the case.
Frederic R. Parker, 20, Mount Vernon, is accused of sexual battery for allegedly engaging in sexual conduct with a 17-year-old female, on Feb. 6, 2010. The indictment alleges Parker knew the victim’s ability to appraise the nature of or control her own conduct was substantially impaired during the sexual conduct. Detective Sgt. Jeff Jacobs and Corporal Scott McKnight, Mount Vernon Police Department, investigated the case.
On Aug. 7, 2010, at approximately 3 a.m., Felicia D. Nelson, 20, and Anna M. Frost aka Anna M. St. John, 20, both of Mount Vernon, allegedly attempted to remove two transmissions from the property of an automobile dealership without the permission of the owner. Thatcher said Nelson and Frost, aka St. John, are accused of breaking and entering for trespassing on the property with purpose to commit a felony. McKnight interrupted the attempted theft and recovered the transmissions.
Brent A. Beeman aka Brent A. Fish, 35, Mount Vernon, faces charges of receiving stolen property and forgery. Thatcher said on Jan. 3 and 11, Beeman, aka Fish, allegedly possessed two blank checks that belonged to a Centerburg church, and he allegedly forged the checks for a total of $1,862. Jacobs investigated the case.
Colin J. Grogg, 18, Fredericktown, was indicted on a receiving stolen property charge for allegedly possessing a stolen laptop computer, on Jan. 7. Thatcher said the computer was the property of a Fredericktown church. Lt. Jay Sheffer, Fredericktown Police Department, investigated the case.
Alicia C. Rudd, 19, Fredericktown, is accused of theft, receiving stolen property and forgery. On Oct. 12 and 14, 2010, Rudd allegedly forged and cashed six stolen checks totaling $6,300. Sheffer investigated the case.
Cole R. Hauger, 26, Mount Vernon, is charged with receiving stolen property for allegedly possessing a stolen debit card on Dec. 31, 2010. Thatcher said Deputy Tim Light, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, obtained store surveillance video showing Hauger allegedly using the debit card to purchase video games.
Michael C. Morales, 18, Miami, Fla., allegedly broke into 17 rooms in two local college dormitories where he stole cash, gift cards, cell phones and clothing items on Jan. 22. Morales is charged with burglary. Light investigated the case.
Amanda D. Freed, 23, Centerburg, is accused of illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a detention facility and two counts of aggravated possession of drugs. Thatcher said on Dec. 25, 2010, Freed was arrested on a failure to appear warrant out of the Mount Vernon Municipal Court. Freed was allegedly found in possession of 34.27 grams of cocaine, 11 tablets found to contain Oxycodone, a controlled substance, and $976 in cash. Freed then allegedly conveyed a hypodermic needle into the Knox County Jail containing a clear liquid that was later tested at the Mansfield Police Department crime lab and found to contain Oxycodone. The indictment also contains a specification seeking forfeiture of the $976, alleging that the cash is either contraband or the proceeds of criminal activity. Lt. Gary Rohler, KCSO, investigated the case.
Cheryl D. Goodman, 61, Walhonding, allegedly assaulted a 58-year-old developmentally disabled woman at a Mount Vernon park on Aug. 27, 2010. Thatcher said witnesses allege they saw Goodman hit the victim in the back twice with a closed fist. Goodman is accused of patient abuse because she is an employee of a state facility where the alleged victim is a resident. Eric Thomas, an investigator for the state facility, handled the case.
Jeremiah E. Frost, 29, Mount Vernon, was indicted on receiving stolen property and grand theft charges. Thatcher said on March 27 and 29, 2010, Frost allegedly possessed a pickup truck stolen from a roofing company. On Aug. 7, 2010, Frost allegedly stole stainless steel flanges and rings from a construction company valued at $8,000. Detective Craig Feeney, MVPD, investigated the case.
Patrick T. Underwood, 26, Mount Vernon, is accused of illegal processing of drug documents for allegedly altering an Oxycodone prescription and trying to have the prescription filled at a local pharmacy on Dec. 28, 2010. Patrolman Brian Durbin, MVPD, investigated the case.
Jeffrey A. Hill, 34, and Cassie N. Pelton, 23, Fredericktown, are accused of selling heroin to a confidential informant working for the Mount Vernon Police on Sept. 22, 2010. Thatcher said the trafficking in heroin charges are felonies of the fourth degree because Hill and Pelton are also accused of selling heroin in the presence of a small child. Hill also faces a trafficking in cocaine charge for selling cocaine to a confidential informant on Oct. 7. Feeney and Detective David McElroy investigated the cases.
Arraignments are scheduled for Feb. 18, before Common Pleas Court Judge Otho Eyster.
