A Reno man accused of shooting a sheriff’s deputy and firing shots at other people on April 8 is facing 96 years in prison after a 17-count indictment was returned Monday.
The alleged shooter, Jason Berecz, 33, of 490 County Nine Road, was one of 33 people indicted by a Washington County grand jury.
Only 28 of the indictments were made public. The details of five “secret” indictments will be released after the suspects are in custody, prosecutors said.
A gag order in the Berecz case prevented prosecutors from discussing details about the highly publicized indictment.
Berecz is accused of shooting Washington County sheriff’s Detective Scott Parks, who was responding to a domestic dispute call from the Berecz home.
Parks sustained an injury to his eye and nose, but returned to work last week.
The charges against Berecz include three first-degree felony counts of attempted murder; two counts of first-degree felonious assault; two counts of discharging a firearm in a prohibited area; three counts of second-degree felonious assault; fourth-degree felony domestic violence; and fifth-degree felony cultivation of marijuana.
Berecz also faces misdemeanor charges of drug abuse, using weapons while intoxicated, aggravated menacing and resisting arrest.
During an April 16 preliminary hearing in Marietta Municipal Court, Berecz’s ex-girlfriend testified the man was high, drunk and planning to drive to Columbus to buy crack cocaine when she took his car keys, sending him into a fit of rage. She said Berecz attacked her, fired a gun at the ground near her feet and shot Parks, who was responding to a 911 call from the home.
Berecz is also accused of shooting at a passing vehicle, nearly hitting a passenger.
Berecz will be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. May 7 before Judge Ed Lane in Washington County Common Pleas Court.
Other indictments:
¯ Eddie A. Merinar, 35, of Ravenswood, W.Va., was charged with third-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of an officer. Merinar is accused of fleeing from police last August in Belpre.
¯ Alex Dunn, 18, of Waverly, W.Va., was charged with fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property. Dunn is accused of being in possession of stolen jewelery March 13.
¯ Herbert Nunn II, 33, of 121 Brandt Drive, Marietta was charged with second-degree felony burglary with specification. Nunn is accused of forcing his way into a Reno residence while intoxicated and on post-release control April 10.
¯ Mary B. Wilson, 27, of Marietta, was charged with fifth-degree felony complicity in misuse of credit cards and fifth-degree felony theft. Wilson is accused of stealing a debit card and making improper charges Dec. 9.
¯ Kelly J. Farnsworth, 20, of 122 Harmar St., Marietta, was charged with fifth-degree felony complicity in misuse of credit cards and fifth-degree felony theft. Farnsworth is accused of stealing a debit card and making improper charges Dec. 9.
¯ John Nichols, 43, of 300 Alderman St. Lot 1, Marietta, was charged with fourth-degree felony burglary. Nichols is accused of breaking into an Alderman Street residence Oct. 26.
¯ Joshua Campbell, 25, of 188 Cats Creek Road, Lowell, was charged with third-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer. Campbell is accused of running from police in Marietta on Feb. 18.
¯ Amanda J. Varner, 27, of Williamstown was charged with four counts of fourth-degree felony complicity in trafficking in drugs. Varner is accused of selling various prescription drugs on Sept. 27 in Marietta.
¯ Deborah J. Williams, 53, of Williamstown, was charged with four counts of fourth-degree felony complicity in trafficking in drugs. Williams is accused of selling various prescription drugs on Sept. 27 in Marietta.
¯ Nathanael Nolan, 22, of Williamstown was charged with fifth-degree felony trafficking in marijuana, fourth-degree felony trafficking in drugs and fifth-degree felony trafficking in drugs. Nolan is accused of selling drugs to confidential informants on Sept. 27 and Oct. 19.
¯ Wesley Lloyd, 38, of Wapakoneta was charged with three counts of third-degree felony unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Lloyd is accused of having sex with a local girl he met over the Internet.
¯ Matthew S. Tieman of Burton was charged with fifth-degree felony aggravated trafficking in drugs and fifth-degree felony possession of drugs. Tieman is accused of being in possession of marijuana and cocaine during a Feb. 2 traffic stop.
¯ Jeremy Wright, 25, of 1206A County House Lane, Marietta, was charged with three counts of third-degree felony burglary and two counts of fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property. Wright is accused of breaking into a Cisler Drive residence on March 10.
¯ Rhonda Clark, 31, of 124 Tennis Center Drive, Apt. 3B, Marietta, was charged with fifth-degree felony tampering with records and four counts of fifth-degree felony forgery. Clark is accused of forging a signature indicating community service had been performed on a Marietta Municipal Court document on Dec. 20.
¯ David Floyd, 37, of 907 Hocking Road, Belpre, was charged with fifth-degree felony non-support of dependents. Floyd is accused of failing to pay child support. Court officials say he owes $4,517.
¯ Angelo V. Knox, 19, of 3558 School House Road, Little Hocking, was charged with fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property and fifth-degree felony illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon in a school safety zone. Knox is accused of being in possession of a stolen gun last October.
¯ Bradley Divel, 19, of 2465 Graham Road, Cutler, was charged with third-degree felony theft and fifth-degree felony illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon in a school zone. Divel is accused of stealing a gun, taking it to a school and giving it to Knox.
¯ Steve Wilson, 53, of 8528 Dalzell Road, Lower Salem, was charged with fifth-degree felony theft. Wilson is accused of taking $2,700 for work and materials on a construction project and failing to complete the work.
¯ Stephan Butler of Marietta Mills Apartments No. 18, Marietta, was charged with fourth-degree felony trafficking in cocaine, fourth-degree felony trafficking in marijuana and second-degree felony trafficking in cocaine. Butler is accused of being in possession of and selling drugs Jan 31.
¯ Roy Rex, 53, of 100 Hanover St., Cutler, was charged with fifth-degree felony possession of cocaine. Rex is accused of being in possession of the drug at his home Sept. 24.
¯ Johnny R. Baker, 38, of 98 Emery Lane, Little Hocking, was charged with fourth-degree felony theft. Baker is accused of stealing $44,000 from the Beverly BP station while he was a manager at the store.
¯ Christina R. Hines, 37, of 711 Ninth St., Marietta, was charged with two counts of third-degree felony possession of drugs and third-degree felony tampering with evidence. Hines is accused of being in possession of drugs Oct. 23 and attempting to conceal them from police.
¯ David S. Burns, 31, of Parkersburg was charged with third-degree felony tampering with evidence. Burns is accused of attempting to hide drugs from police Oct. 23.
¯ Chad D. LaPlante, 31, of Parkersburg was charged with two counts of fifth-degree felony trafficking in drugs. LaPlante is accused of selling drugs Dec. 4 and Dec. 8 in Marietta.
¯ Tyler Bailey, 26, of Barlow was charged with fourth-degree felony theft. Bailey is accused of stealing a truck Nov. 24 from a Marietta residence.
¯ Tyson Hill, 26, of 175 Goose Run Road, Marietta, was charged with fourth-degree felony theft and fifth-degree felony possession of drugs. Hill is accused of stealing a truck Nov. 24 from a Marietta residence and being in possession of drugs during a Dec. 8 traffic stop.
