Newport man faces charges over care of mother
By Sam Shawver, sshawver@mariettatimes.comA Newport man, whose 80-year-old mother was discovered two months ago living in a Long Run Road home covered with animal feces, was indicted by a Washington County Grand Jury this week.
The prosecutor's office announced Friday that Steven R. Sharp, 52, who lived with his mother, Dorothy Sharp, at 1815 Long Run Road, was indicted on a fourth-degree felony charge of failing to provide for a functionally impaired person.
His was among six indictments handed down by the grand jury this week.
"On Sept. 8, law enforcement and the county dog warden were called to Newport Township about some loose dogs. They discovered Dorothy Sharp lying in a 1-inch-deep layer of cat feces, and she was generally non-responsive to her surroundings," Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Rings said on Friday.
"When they entered the residence the odor was so bad that one officer vomited," he said. "Mrs. Sharp was taken to the hospital where she was found to be malnourished, dehydrated and disoriented.
Although Steven Sharp was living at the home and helping take care of his mother's finances, "her condition would likely have resulted in death if she had not been discovered at that time," Rings added.
Dorothy Sharp is currently residing in a nursing care facility.
"She is doing well," Rings said.
Steven Sharp was arrested after the incident and is currently out on bond. He has also been charged with five misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.
More than 20 dogs, most tied up with no access to food or water, were discovered on the Sharp property, along with numerous cats, 33 of which had to be euthanized because they had contracted leukemia, which is contagious among felines.
Other indictments handed down Friday:
Jeffrey Cottrell, 37, of 12005 Oakland Ave., Cleveland, faces one fourth-degree felony count of theft and a fifth-degree felony count of attempting to sell a counterfeit controlled substance.
Prosecutor Jim Schneider said Cottrell was paid $14,000 by a confidential informant for a large quantity of cocaine and he was originally arrested on drug trafficking charges.
"But when lab results came back, it showed there were no drugs or controlled substances," Schneider said. "So the charge was changed to theft by deception and selling a counterfeit controlled substance."
Michael J. Broadnax, 23, of 318 South Cypress Ave., Columbus, was indicted on one count of second-degree trafficking in crack cocaine and a fifth-degree count of possession of drugs (oxycodone). Broadnax is accused of selling 17.9 grams of crack cocaine to an informant on June 8 and being in illegal possession of three oxycodone pills.
Richard Hawkins, 39, of 101 Theis Ave., Lot 15, Marietta, was indicted on two fifth-degree felony counts of trafficking in heroin, one fourth-degree felony count of trafficking in heroin and one fifth-degree felony count of possession of drugs. Schneider said the charges stemmed from an investigation of incidents that took place at various locations in Marietta on April 14, May 27, and June 5 of this year.
Jason A. Winkle, 28, last known address 803 Merrick Ave., Zanesville, and Bruce A. Porter, 44, last known address 30095 State Route 7, Marietta were jointly indicted on one count each of complicity in illegal manufacture of drugs, a first-degree felony; one count each of illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, a second-degree felony; one count each of complicity in the illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, a second-degree felony; and one count each of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.
Assistant Prosecutor Alison Cauthorn said the indictments resulted from the discovery in 2006 of a lab used to produce methamphetamine in a mobile home rented by Winkle in Newport. She said Winkle was charged at the time, but Porter had left the area and moved to Texas before charges could be filed against him in Washington County.
Cauthorn said both men also face an additional specification of operating the lab within 100 feet of another mobile home where a juvenile resided.
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armybrat
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11-22-09 6:25 PM
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His brother should be sentenced for the same crime, abuse of his mother. Both sons are guilty of mistreating their mother.
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dragon50
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11-22-09 12:19 PM
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This is absolutely unacceptable, his should have to live this way. I just have one question, where is his other brother, why didn't he do anything about this?
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armybrat
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11-21-09 12:27 PM
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I can't imagine anyone treating their mother like that. Making her live in such squalid conditions. I hope he gets sentenced to prison and put in with someone who loves and misses their mother.
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smokehouse
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11-21-09 10:47 AM
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Seems like the prosecutors office has time to work on all the cases except the Grimes and Steinel cases. We need an outside prosecutor appointed to bring these cases to court after almost a year of waiting for something to happen.
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