A Washington County grand jury returned indictments against 21 individuals Monday, including two for sex crimes against children.
Benjamin Anderson, 46, of 1116 Fourth St., Belpre, was charged with first-degree felony rape and third-degree felony gross sexual imposition after he was accused of engaging in sex with a then-12-year-old girl.
Assistant Washington County Prosecutor Kevin Rings said the acts occurred about a year ago in Belpre.
"This was a child that was known to him and that he no longer has access to," Rings said.
Other sex charges were filed against James "Jamie" B. Hoban II, 34, of 1213 Wyatt Lane, Apt. A, Belpre, who was indicted on six counts of third-degree felony gross sexual imposition. Hoban had previously been charged with two counts of gross sexual imposition in November 2008; however, prosecutors said those cases were re-indicted with four more charges added after more abuse was alleged.
Hoban is accused of engaging in sexual contact with two 12-year-old girls over a several week period during the fall of 2007, according to prosecutors.
Also indicted:
Melinda Norris, 47, of 671 Baker Ridge Road, Macksburg, was charged with second-degree felony theft from an elderly person. Norris, a former employee of Peoples Bank, is accused of withdrawing $58,000 from a customer's account without permission.
Stacy Thompson, 29, of 116 Harmar St., Marietta, was charged with third-degree felony possession of heroin. Thompson is accused of being in possession of 60 doses of the drug during a July 1 traffic stop on Pike Street in Marietta.
Laurence D. Cleghorn, 45, last known address, Route 1, Box 48, Little Hocking, was charged with third-degree felony failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer. Cleghorn is accused of fleeing from police during an April 2004 incident in Belpre. Although a warrant has been active since then, police have not been able to locate Cleghorn and prosecutors decided to proceed with indictment.
Dallas Farnsworth, 36, of 122 Harmar St., Marietta, was charged with fifth-degree felony receiving stolen property. Farnsworth is accused of being in possession of a purse reported stolen from a parked vehicle Nov. 15 on Marietta's west side.
William Harris, 30, of 405 Elm St., Belpre, was charged with fifth-degree felony non-support of dependents. Harris is accused of failing to pay $12,430 in child support.
Annie R. Burks, 54, of Detroit, was charged with third-degree felony trafficking in cocaine, third-degree felony possession of cocaine and third-degree felony illegal conveyance of drugs onto the grounds of a detention facility. Burks is accused of concealing at least 10 grams of cocaine in a body cavity during a Nov. 8 traffic stop on Interstate 77 near Marietta. Prosecutors said Burks continued to keep the drugs concealed until discovered by corrections officers when she was processed into the jail.
Nathan Rios, 25, of 2535 Highland Ridge Road, Lowell, was charged with first-degree misdemeanor assault. Rios is accused of starting a Nov. 9 fight in the 800 block of Pike Street.
Christopher Griffin, 25, of Reedsville, was charged with second-degree felony robbery, third-degree felony robbery and second-degree misdemeanor attempted theft. Griffin is accused of a Nov. 19 attempted robbery of the Par-Mar store in Little Hocking. He allegedly threatened the clerk with an unopened pocketknife.
Charles Sexton, 47, of 1209 Cisler Drive Apt. D, Marietta, was charged with fourth-degree felony assault of a police officer, fifth-degree felony obstructing official business, first-degree misdemeanor aggravated menacing and second-degree misdemeanor obstructing official business. Sexton is accused of assaulting an officer Nov. 28 who responded to a domestic violence report at the Sexton residence.
Bryce Barnes, 19, of Route 1, Box 224A, Williamstown, was charged with fourth-degree felony carrying concealed weapons, first-degree misdemeanor assault, first-degree misdemeanor theft, third-degree misdemeanor criminal mischief and first-degree misdemeanor aggravated trespass. Barnes is accused of a series of criminal acts Dec. 5 at Wal-Mart in Marietta, where police say he was also found in possession of a loaded handgun.
Michael Hoffert, 27, of 101 Washington St., Marietta, was charged with fifth-degree felony theft. Hoffert is accused of stealing a television from a West Montgomery Street resident on Nov. 14.
Jessica E. Grimes, 29, of Sistersville, W.Va., was charged with fifth-degree felony theft and fifth-degree felony forgery. Grimes is accused of altering a weight slip at a local scrap yard to make it appear she was owed $1,300 rather than $200.
Danielle M. Zaayer, 32, of 300 Starlite Drive, Lot 36, Marietta, was charged with fifth-degree felony deception to obtain a dangerous drug. Zaayer is accused of ordering and picking up a prescription without the knowledge or consent of the person for whom the prescription was intended.
Erin Dutton, 23, of 341 Tadpole Run Road, Belpre, was charged with two counts of second-degree felony illegal manufacture of drugs, third-degree felony illegal manufacture of drugs, third-degree felony illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, two counts of fourth-degree felony trafficking in methamphetamines, two counts of fifth-degree felony trafficking in cocaine and third-degree felony possession of methamphetamines. Dutton and others are accused of manufacturing and trafficking in meth and other drugs in April of last year and again in late November and early December of this year.
Ryan Nichols, 33, of North Central Regional Jail in West Virginia, was charged with second degree felony illegal manufacture of drugs, third-degree felony illegal manufacture of drugs and third-degree felony possession of methamphetamines. Nichols and others are accused of the manufacture and trafficking of meth in April 2008.
Vickie Turner, 48, last known address of 9383 Veto Road, Belpre, was charged with second-degree felony illegal manufacture of drugs and third-degree felony illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs. Turner and others are accused of manufacturing meth in late November and early December of this year.
