MOUNT VERNON — A woman set to testify against her father in Febuary on murder charges was sentenced to community control Friday in Knox County Common Pleas Court by Judge Otho Eyster.
Melissa Collins Kramer, 28, Utica, was convicted of obstructing official business for her conduct during the investigation of a shooting incident on July 1.
According to Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher, Kramer’s father, Michael T. Collins, is scheduled for trial on Feb. 7, on murder, attempted murder and other charges for the death of Lilly Dawn Claggett and wounding of Jesse Collins, the passenger in Claggett’s motor vehicle. Kramer was sentenced to a three-year term of community control supervision, including mandatory drug and alcohol counseling. Kramer will serve 11 months in prison, if she violates any condition of her supervision. Trooper Elizabeth Petro, Ohio State Highway Patrol, investigated the cases.
Robert A. Hanes, 37, Warsaw, was convicted of receiving stolen property for possessing stolen silver coins, on Oct. 15, 2010. Hanes was sentenced to 11 months in prison. Detective Brent McKee, Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case.
Robert E. Smith, 24, Fredericktown, was convicted of attempted domestic violence for attempting to assault his live-in girlfriend on June 23. Smith was sentenced to a three-year term of community control supervision, including a 180-day jail sentence. Smith will serve 11 months in prison if he violates any condition of his supervision. Deputy Tim Light, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case.
Rodney R. Sapp, 22, Bellville, was convicted of receiving stolen property for possessing tools and equipment stolen from a garage in Fredericktown on March 23. Sapp was sentenced to a three-year term of community control supervision, including a 90-day jail sentence, and he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $15,771 to the victim. Sapp will serve 17 months in prison if he violates any condition of his supervision. Patrolman Nick Holdren, Fredericktown Police Department, investigated the case.
Neisha N. Payne, 23, Mount Vernon, was convicted of theft from an elderly person, receiving stolen property and forgery for stealing blank checks from a 72-year-old relative. Payne was sentenced to a three-year term of community control supervision, including a 30-day jail sentence, and she was ordered to pay restitution to the victim. Payne will serve 11 months in prison if she violates any condition of her supervision. Thatcher said the Payne and a co-defendant forged the checks and cashed them in amounts totaling over $1,600. Detective Doug Turpen, KCSO, investigated the case.
Richard Dean Cox, 35, was convicted of attempted tampering with records for using his brother’s identity to obtain a temporary instruction permit at the local bureau of motor vehicles on Sept. 10, 2010. Cox was sentenced to a three-year term of community control supervision, including mandatory drug and alcohol counseling. Cox will serve 17 months in prison if he violates any condition of his supervision. Tim Hughes, BMV Investigator, Ohio Department of Public Safety, investigated the case.