MOUNT VERNON — Thirteen indictments were handed down by a Knox County grand jury, on April 4. Arraignments are scheduled for April 22, before Common Pleas Court Judge Otho Eyster.
According to Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher, Scott E. Thomas, 30, Mount Vernon, was indicted on charges of rape, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and importuning. Thomas is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with a female victim on March 1 and Nov. 1, 2010, when she was 12 years old. Thomas is further accused of engaging in sexual conduct with the victim, on Feb. 22, 2011, when she was 13 years old. Thatcher said on Feb. 22, Thomas also sent the victim a text message allegedly asking her to engage in additional sexual activity. Detective David McElroy, Mount Vernon Police Department, investigated the case.
Zachary T. Smith, 19, Newark, faces charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and importuning for allegedly soliciting sexual activity from a 14-year-old girl and then engaging in sexual conduct with her on March 21. Patrolman Justin Trowbridge, MVPD, investigated the case.
Joshua J. Peschke, 38, is accused of two counts of aggravated possession of drugs and one count of aggravated trafficking in drugs. Peschke allegedly sold 100 Percocet tablets to a confidential informant working for the Mount Vernon Police Department on March 16. Peschke was allegedly caught with another 178 Percocet tablets and $4,768 in cash when he was arrested. On March 18, the police intercepted a priority mail package allegedly sent to Peschke containing 393 Percocet tablets. Thatcher said the indictment also carries a specification requesting forfeiture of the $4,768 to the state of Ohio because the money was allegedly involved in illegal drug activity.
Diana D. Flack, 34, Mount Vernon, is accused of two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs and one count of aggravated possession of drugs. Flack allegedly sold three Percocet tablets to a confidential informant working for the Mount Vernon Police Department on March 9. Flack allegedly sold 12 more Percocet tablets to a confidential informant on March 10. Flack was allegedly caught with another 55 Percocet tablets and $6,382 in cash on March 16. Thatcher said the indictment also carries a forfeiture specification for the $6,382.
Detective Cpl. Matt Dailey, MVPD, investigated the Peschke and Flack cases.
Shannon Y. Reynolds, 42, Mount Vernon, allegedly stole prescription drugs from a Mount Vernon pharmacy on Nov. 13 and Dec. 13, 2010, and again, on Jan. 10, 2011. Reynolds faces three theft of drugs charges. Patrolman Qade Lewis, MVPD, investigated the case.
Levi C. O’Rourke, 21, Mount Vernon, allegedly broke into an apartment on Wooster Road on the morning of March 7. O’Rourke then allegedly offered to sell a laptop computer stolen from the apartment later that evening. O’Rourke is charged with burglary and receiving stolen property. Patrolman Justin Trowbridge, MVPD, investigated the case.
James R. Frost, 22, and Shade A. Knox, 21, both of Mount Vernon, face breaking and entering and vandalism charges for allegedly breaking into a College Street business by shattering a window and then causing additional damage inside the building. Thatcher said Knox was caught by Deputy Michael Rutherford, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, when Knox allegedly exited the business. Deputy Scott Baker caught Frost who was allegedly hiding inside the business. Knox is also accused of illegal conveyance of drugs onto a government facility for allegedly bringing marijuana into the Knox County Jail after he was arrested for the break-in.
Richard Dean Cox, 35, faces a charge of tampering with records for allegedly using his brother’s identity to obtain a temporary instruction permit at the local bureau of motor vehicles, on Sept. 10, 2010. Thatcher said state driving records show Cox had a suspended driver’s license on the date of the alleged offense. BMV Investigator Tim Hughes, Ohio Department of Public Safety, investigated the case.
Tammy J. Carman, 48, James D. Yors, 43, and Casie L. Carman, 23, all of Mount Vernon, were indicted on grand theft and receiving stolen property charges for allegedly stealing in excess of $5,000 worth of X-Box and PS3 video games, between Dec. 6, 2010, and Jan. 15, 2011. Thatcher said the video games were allegedly stolen from a Mount Vernon department store and then sold at a video games buy back store near Newark. Detective Craig Feeney, MVPD, investigated the case.
Anthea K. Hendrix, 58, Kent, Wash., was employed as an office worker in Mount Vernon until early January 2011. Thatcher said card key access records allegedly show Hendrix entered one of her former employer’s office buildings the night of Jan. 3. The next morning a co-worker discovered a digital recording device set to voice-activation hidden under a desk. Card key access records and surveillance video allegedly show Hendrix re-entering the building and attempting to retrieve the digital recording device the night of Jan. 4, according to Thatcher. Hendrix is charged with interception of wire, oral or electronic communications, breaking and entering and possessing criminal tools. Patrolman Brian Durbin, MVPD, investigated the case.
