A former Marietta man accused of raping a 9-year-old girl in 2007 was one of 10 people indicted this week by a Washington County Grand Jury.
Jeffery W. Brown, 39, of 3623 Packard St. Apt. 34, Parkersburg, W. Va., allegedly admitted culpability during a phone call with the victim's mother.
"It's covering three different incidents back in March, April, and May of 2007," said Washington County Prosecutor Jim Schneider.
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Brown
Brown was indicted on three first-degree felony counts of rape, three third-degree felony counts of gross sexual imposition and three second-degree felony counts of sexual battery.
"During that time frame, Jeff Brown was living with the mother of the victim," said Schneider.
The incidents occurred at two locations, first on Charles Street in Marietta and later on Starlight Drive in Reno. Because of the dual locations, both the Marietta Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff's Office were involved in the investigation, said Schneider.
The victim, now 14, recently came forward out of fear that her 9-year-old sister, who still has contact with Brown, would be similarly abused, said Schneider.
"The younger sister has been interviewed ... and at this point there was no indication of problems," said Schneider.
Brown allegedly acknowledged that it would be a good idea for the younger girl to stop visiting, said Schneider.
Brown was arrested Aug. 10 and is being held in the Washington County Jail.
A second alleged rapist was also indicted Friday.
Larry G. Blair, 52, last known address 705 Third Ave., South Myrtle, S.C., was charged with one count of rape, a first-degree felony.
On Feb. 11, Blair allegedly raped a 38-year-old female relative at the Lowell residence where Blair lived with his brother, said Schneider.
He and the female had been drinking with the woman at The Four Seasons and The Locker Room. The victim agreed to return to Blair's residence, but tried to resist his advances, said Schneider.
"His claim to the officers was that he never had sex with her, but the DNA results say differently," said Schneider.
Blair was arrested in South Carolina on July 29 and is being held in the Washington County Jail.
Other indictments handed down were:
Tammie Kerns, 45, and Mark Kerns, 50, both of 718 McGill Road, Vincent, were indicted on one count each of illegal cultivation of marijuana and one count each of having weapons while under disability, all third-degree felonies.
The drugs were spotted during a July 24 fly over by a helicopter crew from the Bureau of Criminal Identification.
"They spotted a large amount of marijuana growing at the property," said Schneider.
Officers gathered up 18.1 kilograms of marijuana. Cultivating that among of marijuana classifies it a felony of the third degree, said Schneider.
Upon searching the home, officers also found a rifle, a shotgun, and a handgun. Both the Kerns had been prosecuted for distribution of methamphetamines in the 1990s and were not allowed to own guns as a result of that conviction, said Schneider.
Stephon E. Hite, 23, of 455 Half Ave., Circleville, was indicted on one count of trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony.
Hite's girlfriend, Jennifer N. Stout, 19, of 8245 Reinersville Road, McConnelsville, was also indicted on one third-degree felony count of trafficking in drugs.
Hite is accused of selling 60 Percocet pills to a task force officer for the Washington County Sheriff's Office on June 21, said Schneider.
The officer had contacted Hite in an effort to find out more about a series of breaking and enterings in Lowell.
"That information was not forthcoming, but Hite was awfully interested in selling these pills," said Schneider.
After the sale, officers pulled over the vehicle Hite has ridden in. It was being driven by Stout.
Stout admitted that her mother sometimes gave her and Hite Percocet pills to sell. Stout's mother has not been charged.
Officers also got no indication that Hite or Stout were involved in the breaking and enterings which they had initially been investigating, said Schneider.
Terry G. Dalton, 46, of 1313 Jewett Drive, Zanesville, was indicted for one count of domestic violence, a third-degree felony. On July 7, he was accused of causing or attempting to cause harm to his live-in girlfriend.
Dalton has several prior domestic violence convictions in both Muskingum County and Washington County, but none against the current victim, said Schneider.
Jeremy J. Nicholas, 33, of 120 Ward St., Marietta was indicted on one forth-degree felony count of domestic violence. Nicholas is accused of hitting his girlfriend, who was pregnant at the time, said Schneider.
Nicholas has a prior 2008 domestic battery conviction in Hillsborough County, Fla.
Lisa D. Smith, 27, of 50802 Joppa Road, Reedsville, was indicted on one count of illegal processing of drug documents and one count of deception to obtain a dangerous drug, both fifth-degree felonies stemming from the same event.
On May 7, Smith, who used to work at a local doctor's office, allegedly used the name of a former colleague to call in a Xanax prescription for herself to the Belpre Kroger's Pharmacy.
The pharmacist became suspicious when Smith called back 10 minutes later to see if the prescription was ready to pick up, so the pharmacist called the doctor's office and learned the prescription was not valid, said Schneider.
Shawn. A. Williams, 22, of 205 Sheldon Ave. Apt. 2, Marietta, was indicted on one count of breach of recognizance bond, a forth-degree felony. Williams did not show up for an Aug. 21 trial on charges of felonious assault and tampering with evidence. A warrant has been issued for his arrest, said Schneider.
