23 indictments were filed by a Knox County Grand Jury, on June 2. Arraignments are scheduled for June 19 in the Common Pleas Court before Judge Otho Eyster.

According to Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher, four men face charges as the result of an early morning burglary near Danville, on May 17. Jason P. Bice, 24, Nashport, Ohio, and James S. Hiles, Jr., 23, Roseville, Ohio, are accused of aggravated burglary with firearm specifications, burglary, theft of guns and possessing criminal tools. Bice is also charged with illegally possessing firearms due to his drug possession conviction in Muskingum County, in 2004. Nickolas E. Dennis, 19, Crooksville, Ohio, and Christopher A. Moran, Jr., 24, Howard, were indicted for complicity in the commission of the offenses for allegedly aiding and abetting Bice, Hiles and a juvenile suspect with the break-in. Thatcher said Bice, Hiles, Dennis, Moran and the juvenile allegedly drove to the residence, and Dennis and Moran remained in the vehicle while Bice, Hiles and the juvenile allegedly broke into the home. During the break-in, Bice, Hiles and the juvenile allegedly carried two shotguns and a .22 caliber pistol, they wore gloves and they covered their faces with bandanas. A muzzleloader, shotgun and other personal property were allegedly stolen from the residence, according to Thatcher. All five suspects were caught at the scene by Knox County Sheriff’s deputies responding to the victims’ 911 call. Detective Dave Light, KCSO, investigated the case.

Jeremiah Linn Leist, 26, Mount Vernon, is charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of robbery and one count of theft of guns. According to Thatcher on April 7, Leist allegedly broke into a residence near Howard where he stole a shotgun. Five days later Leist allegedly broke into a Mount Vernon residence where he stole cash and personal property. On May 17, Leist allegedly stole money from a cash register at a Mount Vernon bar and then physically harmed a bar employee and patron while fleeing after the robbery. Detective Light and Detective Craig Feeney, Mount Vernon Police Department, investigated the burglary cases and Detective Sergeant Gary Rohler, KCSO, investigated the robbery charge.

Melvin Ray Fiske, 22, is accused of burglarizing a Mount Vernon residence on June 16, 2008, and of stealing $15,433.53 in cash and personal property. Thatcher said last June there were no suspects, but Detective Feeney submitted blood evidence collected at the residence to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation for analysis. In May 2009, BCI& I notified Feeney that a search of Ohio’s DNA Index System revealed an association between the blood evidence and Fiske who was serving a prison term in the Lebanon Correctional Institution.

According to their indictments, Steven M. Tomlin, 18, Mount Vernon, and Felicia D. Nelson, 18, Newark, burglarized a Mount Vernon residence, on May 16. Thatcher said the following day Detective Dave McElroy and Patrolman Tim Durbin, MVPD, recovered electronics and other property allegedly stolen from the residence hidden in the camper Tomlin and Nelson were staying in, near Columbus Road.

Billy J. Maynard, 51, Mount Vernon, is charged with illegally possessing a 12 gauge shotgun, on April 26, due to his prior Franklin County convictions for attempted felonious assault with a firearm, in 1977, and felonious assault, in 1980. The indictment alleges that Maynard has never been relieved of the legal prohibition to possess firearms due to his prior convictions for felony offenses of violence. Deputy Tom Durbin, KCSO, investigated the case.

Tera L. Gore, 33, Mount Vernon, is charged with theft for allegedly stealing $12, 209.13 from her former employer between November 1, 2008, and February 6, 2009. Detective Light investigated the case.

On February 15, 2007, the Knox County Probate Court appointed Rachel L. Cline, 28, Mount Vernon, executor of her relative’s estate. The estate is insolvent because the estate’s debts exceed the assets, according to Thatcher. Cline is accused of theft and defrauding creditors for allegedly keeping $4,000.00 from the sale of estate assets in order to avoid paying the estate’s creditors. Detective Sergeant Jeff Jacobs, MVPD, investigated the case.

On March 12 Michael L. Wallace, 21, Mount Vernon, allegedly stole $1,016.00 from a 75-year old Connecticut resident. Thatcher said Wallace’s theft charge is enhanced by one felony degree due to the alleged victim being over 65 years of age. On March 30, Wallace allegedly stole $1,700.00 from a victim, in New York. In both case, Wallace allegedly sold non-existent gold coins to the victims through the internet. Detective Sergeant Rohler investigated the case.

Shelby L. Woods, 29, Mount Vernon, is charged with theft by deception for allegedly stealing pre-paid phone cards valued at $1,308.00, between October 30, 2007, and March 4, 2008, when she was employed at a gas station and convenience store, in Mount Vernon. Detective Sergeant Roger Brown, KCSO, investigated the case.

Rebecca L. Scott, 36, Danville, faces charges of forgery and petty theft. Thatcher said on June 16, 2008, Scott allegedly forged the endorsement signature on a $300.00 check and then cashed it. Detective Corporal Matt Dailey, MVPD, investigated the case.

According to their indictments, between June 10 and 17, 2008, Rockey E. Clark, 19, Mount Vernon, and Justin P. Glick, 20, Centerburg, possessed a stolen check card and used the check card owner’s name to make purchases at local convenience stores and to obtain services through the internet. Clark and Glick are accused of receiving stolen property and identity fraud. Detective Sergeant Rohler investigated the cases.

Karrie D. Williamson, 33, Mount Vernon, allegedly used a former roommate’s name and social security number to obtain telephone and internet service at her residence, on March 9. Williamson is charged with identity fraud for allegedly using another person’s personal identifying information, according to Thatcher. Detective McElroy and Patrolman Jason Payne, MVPD, investigated the case.

Tracy L. Fowler, 44, Mount Vernon, was indicted on 13 counts of deception to obtain dangerous drugs. Thatcher said between April 11, 2006, and June 5, 2008, Fowler allegedly filled overlapping prescriptions for Alprazolam, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Lorazepam and Clonazepam written by doctors who did not know Fowler already had prescriptions for these controlled drugs. Deputy Durbin investigated the case.

The evening of March 6, Trooper Neil Laughlin, Ohio State Highway Patrol, stopped a vehicle on Columbus Road and cited the driver for drunk driving. Leea D. Daniels, 32, Mount Vernon, was a passenger in the vehicle. During the traffic stop, Daniels allegedly admitted that she had five Percocet pills and drug paraphernalia in her pants pocket. Daniels is charged with aggravated possession of drugs.

On March 12, Kimberley S. Lowe, 41, Mount Vernon, allegedly altered a prescription for Oxycodone and attempted to have the prescription filled at Mount Vernon pharmacy. The pharmacist contacted the Mount Vernon Police Department before the prescription was filled. Lowe is charged with illegal processing of drug documents. Detective Feeney investigated the case.

Harvey J. Miller, 54, Utica, is accused of having sexual contact by force or threat of force with two alleged victims on about December 29, 2007 and October 1, 2008. Miller is charged with gross sexual imposition. Detective Tom Bumpus and Detective Light, KCSO, investigated the case

Wayne W. Rittenhouse, Jr., 26, Frazeysburg, Ohio, faces a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor for allegedly having sex with a 14 year old victim, on April 26. Detective Craig Feeney investigated the case.

On June 30, 2006, Clifford D. Koch, 24, Mount Vernon, was convicted in Knox County of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, was classified as a sex offender and sentenced to a 17 month prison term. After Koch was released from prison he was required to register any change of address with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. On May 19, Koch was arrested by his parole officer William Baer for allegedly leaving his registered address without notifying authorities. Thatcher said Koch is charged with failing to provide change of address notification. Detective Sergeant Brown investigated the case.