Lowell suspect indicted on 2 rape counts

By Brad Bauer, bbauer@mariettatimes.com

A Lowell man is facing more than 70 years in prison on charges he raped two girls who lived in his neighborhood more than five years ago.

Drew L. Potochnik, 23, of 250 Rainbow Cemetery Road, would have been 18 at the time of the acts, according to Washington County sheriff's deputies.

Potochnik was one of 15 individuals indicted Thursday by a Washington County grand jury. Three of the cases allege sex crimes.

The victims in the Potochnik case, now 16 and 20, disclosed the abuse in May, which prompted the investigation, said sheriff's Maj. Mark Warden. He said Potochnik was a friend of the girls' family.

When Potochnik's arrest was initially reported, only one victim was identified. After Potochnik's arrest, another female made allegations of abuse, Warden said.

Potochnik allegedly refused to give a statement to deputies when he was questioned by police about the abuse, but he made incriminating statements to the victims' parents when they asked him about the incidents, Warden said.

"(The victims') parents cooperated with the investigation and spoke to Mr. Potochnik, at which time he did acknowledge some things," Warden said.

That conversation was recorded, according to Warden.

Potochnik has no prior criminal record.

Other indictments

Jeffrey Parker, 45, of 3730 State Route 26, Marietta, was charged with first-degree felony rape. Parker is accused of the rape of a woman on May 11. A second man implicated in the same offense is expected to be indicted by a future grand jury, prosecutors said.

Roy Greathouse, 47, of Pullman, W.Va., was charged with first-degree felony rape and third-degree sexual battery. Greathouse is accused of the rape of a 30-year-old woman at a Newport Township residence.

Thomas P. Daugherty, 31, of 302 Maple St., Marietta, was charged with first-degree felony failure to provide a change of address. Daugherty is accused of lying to police about his residence, which is in violation of his status as a registered sex offender.

Matthew W. Dowler, 46, of Cutler, was charged with fourth-degree felony domestic violence. Dowler is accused of assaulting a domestic partner Jan. 5. He has at least one other conviction for domestic violence, prosecutors said.

Keith Transou, 40, of 102 Muskingum Terrace, Apt. A, Marietta, was charged with two fifth-degree felony counts of trafficking in marijuana. Transou is accused of selling more than 30 grams of the drug to confidential informants last August and November.

Deryl E. Wilson, 40, of 936 Fifth St., Marietta, was charged with fifth-degree felony trafficking in marijuana. Wilson is accused of selling more than 20 grams of the drug to a confidential informant on Nov. 18.

Freddy D. Taylor Jr., 38, of 729 Ninth St., was charged with third-degree felony aggravated trafficking in drugs, fourth-degree felony trafficking in drugs and three counts of fourth-degree felony aggravated trafficking in drugs. Taylor is accused of selling large amounts of opiate-based narcotics to confidential informants between January and April at locations near Lowell.

David F. Jones, 51, of Parkersburg, was charged with two fifth-degree felony counts of identity fraud. Jones is accused of using the identity of another individual to rent equipment from an area business. The equipment was never returned, prosecutors allege.

Stacy L. Hunt, 29, of 45200 State Route 7, New Matamoras, was charged with fifth-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs. Hunt is accused of selling nine Oxycodone pills to a confidential informant on Dec. 26 near Marietta.

Robert J. Seagraves, 30, of Springfield, was charged with third-degree failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and fifth-degree felony obstructing official business. Seagraves is accused of leading police on a May 21 high-speed pursuit from Wal-Mart in Marietta to Interstate 77's exit 6, where Seagraves crashed his vehicle and then fled on foot.

Stephanie Rector, 26, of 27400 State Route 7, Lot 47, Marietta, was charged with two fourth-degree felony counts of trafficking in drugs. Rector is accused of selling prescription drugs to a confidential informant in February and March. The felony levels were elevated because the sales are alleged to have taken place in the vicinity of a child.

Cynthia K. Dailey, 36, of 710 Front St., Marietta, was charged with second-degree felony possession of heroin. Dailey is accused of being in possession of more than 18 grams of the drug during a Dec. 30 traffic stop on Interstate 77 in Washington County.

Steve McCabe, was charged with second-degree felony possession of heroin and second-degree felony trafficking in heroin. McCabe was accused of preparing more than 18 grams of the drug for shipment or sale after he was stopped Dec. 30 on Interstate 77 in Washington County.

Ryan Hayes, 33, of Columbus, was charged with third-degree felony trafficking in cocaine, two counts of second-degree felony trafficking in cocaine, first-degree felony trafficking in crack cocaine and second-degree felony possession of drugs. Hayes is accused of selling nearly 300 grams of the drugs to confidential informants in Marietta between August and December of last year. Prosecutors said 256 grams of the total was sold by Hayes on Dec. 3 to a confidential informant at the Super 8 Motel on Acme Street.