Lightfritz

Attempted murder was the most serious charge to arise out of the June report from a Washington County Grand Jury.

Austin L. Lightfritz, 19, of 116 Harmar St., Marietta, and 2316 Highland Ridge Road, Lowell, was one of 17 people indicted and he faces three felony counts:

¯ Attempted murder, a first-degree felony.

¯ Felonious assault, a second-degree felony.

¯ Tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.

Lightfritz faces these charges in a joint case with co-defendant Hanah E. Clark, 19, of 197 Hardware St., Scottsville, Va., who faces two third-degree felony counts: tampering with evidence and obstructing justice.

These charges are rooted in an incident which occurred May 27 on the property of Ohio Valley Cab in Marietta, Washington County Assistant Prosecutor Joe Derkin explained.

“That night the cab company called 911 after hearing shots fired,” he explained. “Eyewitnesses reported that an individual was trying to get a cab out of the area and he was followed by Lightfritz.”

The fleeing man was allegedly Ligthfritz’s stepfather Mike Kelly.

“That’s when he followed Mr. Kelly onto the company’s property (at 311 Lancaster St. in Harmar) and started striking him and attempted to take his life,” described Derkin. “There was no reason for self-defense (of Lightfritz), this was an intentional act.”

Lightfritz’s first two charges also include specifications for brandishing a firearm, which Clark allegedly helped to hide when she drove Lightfritz away from the scene.

“The weapon was recovered at a home on Ridge Street in Marietta, we believe that location is the home of either a family friend or relative of Ms. Clark,” Derkin added.

The handgun was a small, pink-handled Model CA 380, though Derkin was unsure of the brand.

Clark is allegedly Lightfritz’s girlfriend, though Derkin would not comment on the suspected cause of the altercation.

Both are scheduled to be arraigned in Washington County Common Pleas Court in Judge Randall Burnworth’s courtroom Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Other indictments:

¯ Brandon M. Hall, 33, formerly of 721 Ohio Ave., Belpre, was indicted for failure to provide notice of change of address, a first-degree felony. His current address given upon arrest earlier this month was 709 Thomas Court, Belpre.

Hall was previously convicted of rape, a first-degree felony and sentenced on June 11, 2008.

Hall served four years in prison. As a condition of his release, he is a registered sex-offender required to provide notice of any changes of address. Washington County Assistant Prosecutor David Silwani said Hall’s conviction was produced by a jury prior to the repeal Megan’s Law which Silwani explained meant Hall was “pre-tier.”

“He was subject to 10 years of registration with the local sheriff’s office annually for 10 years,” Silwani added. “The offense happened in 2007 to a 12-year-old.”

Hall was not found by law enforcement when checked for on May 2, 2017.

¯ Alexis M. Moore, 32, of 7375 Dalzell Road, Whipple, was indicted for two counts of prohibitions concerning companion animals, both fifth-degree felonies.

Silwani explained Moore’s case was founded on a concerned report of a possibly abandoned dog at Moore’s home which at the time was recorded as 10 Hill St., Salem Township, on April 11.

“The dog was severely hurt,” Silwani noted, explaining that the Washington County Dog Warden had found both the dog inside the home and a dead cat. “That is animal abuse.”

Washington County Dog Warden Kelly McGilton further explained the case Tuesday.

“The dog was a lab-mixed breed. It had a scar the length of its back from gouging its back trying to get through a door it ate its way through just so it wouldn’t starve,” explained McGilton.

She said the dog was barricaded with a two-by-four and furniture in a first-floor bedroom, while the cat was locked in a room upstairs.

“It’s completely heartbreaking when you put it all together and see the cat died about the same time as the dog got that scar. The cat starved to death because it couldn’t get out,” added McGilton. “The dog was thin, not emaciated when we found her because there was so much garbage in the house she was able to eat after gouging herself on that door.”

McGilton said when she and Deputy Hannah Tornes had questioned Moore’s landlord and neighbors they indicated Moore had not actually lived in the residence in at least three months.

“Neighbors said they’d only seen her pick up kids dropped off at that residence from the bus,” McGilton added. “The landlord said he hadn’t heard from her in a few months.”

McGilton said the dog has since been adopted and gained weight.

¯ Joshua E. Marcum, 30, homeless, was indicted for illegal manufacture of drugs, a first-degree felony, and illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, a second-degree felony.

Marcum was reindicted from a Nov. 4, 2017 case for manufacturing methamphetamine near a school. He was arrested at Hillcrest Apartments in Marietta, according to Assistant Prosecutor Amy Graham.

¯ Miranda A. Bonfini, 30, of 51225 Township Road, 9, Woodsfield, was indicted for two counts of illegal conveyance of weapons, drugs and other prohibited items on the grounds of (a) detention facility or institution, both third-degree felonies, and one count of possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony.

Following transport from Monroe County on unspecified charges, Bonfini allegedly took in small amounts of heroin and cocaine into the Washington County Jail on Aug. 30, 2016.

¯ Delbert D. Cain, 39, of 100 Simpson St., Marietta, was indicted for two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, the first a third-degree felony and the second a fourth-degree felony. He was also indicted for tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.

Silwani said Cain allegedly sold methamphetamine in a pair of controlled buys to the Washington County Major Crimes Task Force on January 9 and 10.

“And he was tampering with a GPS device on Feb. 1,” noted Silwani.

¯ Meranda D. King, 23, of 32565 Rose Hill Road, Pomeroy, was indicted for illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility, a third-degree felony, possession of marijuana, a minor misdemeanor and aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

King is accused of taking small amounts of methamphetamine into the Washington County Jail on March 3, according to Derkin. He was unaware of the original arrest which brought King to the jail.

¯ Brenda L. Mitchem, 53, of 815 Fifth St., Marietta, was indicted for aggravated trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony and possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony.

In a controlled buy on Dec. 19, 2017, Mitchem allegedly sold 0.51 grams of methamphetamine to the major crimes task force.

“And there were several criminal tools there as well,” said Derkin. “The buy was in the vicinity of St. Mary’s School which is what made it a felony.”

¯ Kenneth J. Sheppard, 43, of 46 Melody Lane, Akron, was indicted for two counts of possession of drugs, both fifth-degree felonies.

Washington County Prosecutor Kevin Rings said Sheppard was arrested on March 13, 2016 after the Ohio State Highway Patrol originally pulled him over for a traffic deficit.

“Usually they write a warning saying ‘hey, get that fixed,'” Rings explained. “It was a broken windshield, but one thing led to another and both methamphetamine and amphetamine were found.”

Sheppard allegedly had less than 3 grams of meth on him and 3.3 grams of amphetamine.

¯ Sara Erb, 33, of 24420 State Route 339, Lowell, was indicted for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

Erb was arrested by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 14, 2016 in a traffic stop at 309 Fourth St., Marietta.

“They approached her and found methamphetamine, less than a gram,” noted Silwani.

¯ Dwayne J. Davis, 57, of 122 Ward St., Marietta, was indicted for grand theft, a third-degree felony, tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony and petty theft, a first-degree misdemeanor.

On May 6 Davis allegedly stole a Ruger Mark II Target 22 handgun from Sue Smith and Matthew Reed on Colegate Drive in Marietta.

¯ Leonard D. Todd, 20, of 1417 Sealy Ridge Road, Vincent, was indicted for two counts of theft of a motor vehicle both fourth-degree felonies, and receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony.

The first theft of a motor vehicle and the receiving stolen property charges were founded on a July 2017 offense, according to Derkin.

“(Todd) had stolen a 2000 White Dodge Dakota and traded it for another vehicle,” Derkin explained. “That was a 2004 Hyundai Tiburon. Then the second theft was in April this year and he stole a 2000 Black Chevy Cavalier from Chase Black.”

The victim in the first case was Tonia Todd.

¯ Curtis M. Benson, 26, of 4665 Warren Chapel Road, Marietta, was indicted for two counts of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, the first a fourth-degree felony and the second a fifth-degree felony. He was also indicted for resisting arrest, a second-degree misdemeanor and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a first-degree misdemeanor.

On January 16 Benson was pulled over by the Ohio State Highway Patrol at 604 Main St., Belpre, for having only one operational headlight.

But Benson was eventually arrested after 2 a.m. following the indications from a K-9 dog that contraband was present in the vehicle.

Patrolman Jesse Whittington and his K-9 partner Broski performed an exterior sniff around the vehicle and made a positive indication for contraband on the driver door area, according to police reports. Whittington had the driver step out of the vehicle and advised him to step back to Heddleston’s patrol vehicle, which he refused. Whittington again advised the driver to step back with Heddleston.

Benson then allegedly turned around and tried to reach back into the vehicle. Officers told the driver not to reach back into the vehicle. The driver became irate and started yelling that officers could not search the vehicle. Whittington explained that K-9 Broski made a positive indication on the vehicle for contraband.

The driver was advised multiple times to not try reaching back into the vehicle. A struggle ensued as the driver began pulling away from officers trying to free his hands and reach back into the vehicle. Then Benson was taken to the ground where officers were able to gain control of and handcuff him.

A search of the vehicle was conducted. Whittington recovered a fully loaded .357 magnum revolver in a holster directly behind the middle console in the open, on the back seat within reach of the driver seat.

Silwani said Benson’s blood-alcohol content was not tested.

¯ Mark A. Hart, 27, of 434 Douglas Ave., Marietta, was indicted for domestic violence, a third-degree felony.

With two previous convictions of domestic violence, Hart faces this latest charge for an incident on April 28, Derkin explained.

“There was a physical altercation at their home,” he said, noting the victim was Latisha Boehm, Hart’s sister.

¯ William R. Lowther, 37, of 1602 Deerwalk Highway, Waverly, W.Va., was indicted for domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony.

Lowther has one prior conviction of domestic violence, according to Derkin.

“On April 6 in Belpre there was a physical altercation between William Lowther and his sister Laura Lowther,” he said. “The two also share a residence.”

¯ Frederick G. McKitrick, 36, of 1251 County Road 9, Apt. C3, Marietta, was indicted for failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony.

McKitrick failed to appear for sentencing in Washington County Common Pleas Court on May 23 after pleading guilty to domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony, and possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.

Possible prison terms, maximum fines

¯ First-degree felony: Three to 11 years; $20,000.

¯ Second-degree felony: Two to eight years; $15,000.

¯ Third-degree felony: One to three years; $10,000.

¯ Fourth-degree felony: Six to 18 months; $5,000.

¯ Fifth-degree felony: Six months to one year; $2,500.

Source: Washington County Prosecutor’s Office.

Arraignments will be held in Washington County Common Pleas Court on Monday at 9 a.m. in Judge Mark Kerenyi’s courtroom and Tuesday at 1 p.m. in Judge Randall Burnworth’s courtroom.