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Grand Jury issues indictments

A Belpre man indicted on 26 charges pertaining to sexually-oriented matter involving a minor was just one of 23 true billed defendants covering 70 counts indicted this week by the Washington County Grand Jury.

Scott Michael Dye, 28, of 2204 Hill St., was indicted on 24 counts of pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person as well as two counts of possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony.

Washington County Assistant Prosecutor David Silwani said 12 of the counts were second-degree felonies, while the other 12 were fourth-degree felonies.

“The ones for second-degree is for reproducing the material,” he explained. “When child pornography is downloaded or transferred, you’re creating another copy of the photo.”

He said if a person downloads any image to a phone, then transfers it to a computer, it creates two new images.

Silwani said the first 12 counts are for Dye’s downloading and possessing videos and photos on his phone, while the second 12 are for downloading and possessing the material on his computer.

“His phone just had videos and his computer had a mixture,” Silwani noted.

Subject to forfeiture are the criminal tools, a cell phone and Alienware computer used in the offense.

Dye’s arraignment is set for 11 a.m. July 1 in the courtroom of Washington County Common Pleas Judge Mark Kerenyi.

Other indictments include:

¯ Reginald T. Sims II, 30, of 1449 Boulevard Drive, Belpre, was indicted on one count of failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony; one count of assault, a first-degree misdemeanor; and one count of aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Units from the Marietta Police Department were dispatched May 12 to 108 Woodcrest Drive, Marietta, in regards to a disturbance, possibly involving a firearm.

Upon arrival, contact was made with the victim, who advised that Sims showed up at her residence and her son answered the door. Sims was asked to leave, but reportedly became confrontational and assaulted both the victim and her son.

A resident fired two warning shots and Sims allegedly made multiple threats upon leaving. Sims fled in a red pickup and went to Belpre, where he obtained a knife and began to travel back to Marietta.

The police department reported officers located Sims upon him returning to Marietta and attempted to perform a traffic stop. Sims fled from officers and a pursuit was initiated, where he led officers back to 108 Woodcrest Drive, where he was taken into custody after a brief struggle.

The knife was found in the truck. Sims was charged with assault and aggravated menacing stemming from the original incident, and fleeing and eluding and resisting arrest from the pursuit.

¯ Frederick G. McKitrick, 39, of 550 Ewing Road, Reno, was indicted on one count of escape, a fourth-degree felony. He allegedly did not return to his place of detention on June 1.

¯ Jeremiah T. Harper, 29, of Belpre, was indicted on one count of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony, and one count of abduction, a third-degree felony. He allegedly caused harm to a family member and restrained the liberty of the victim in April. He had previously been convicted of domestic battery in May 2011 in the magistrate court in Putnam County, W.Va.

¯ Jessica Fawn Strode, 36, of 204 Seventh St., Beverly, was indicted on one count of failure to appear as required by recognizance, a fourth-degree felony. She reportedly did not appear in common pleas court on June 11.

¯ Rolando J. Rodriguez, 46, of Marietta, was indicted on one count of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony. He reportedly caused harm to a family member and had previously been convicted of domestic violence in March in Marietta Municipal Court.

¯ Zachary C. Winget, 27, of 102 Seever St., Springfield, was indicted on one count of failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a fourth-degree felony.

The Marietta Police Department, in addition to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, assisted in a pursuit April 16 which was initiated by the St. Marys Police Department in reference to a kidnapping call. The vehicle came to a stop in the parking lot of Kroger and Winget was arrested without incident. He was found to have multiple warrants in Clark County, Ohio.

¯ Paul R. Bright II, 42, last known address of 155 Fred Smith Road, New Matamoras, was indicted on one count of failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony; one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony; and one count of operating a motor vehicle or agricultural tractor without being in control of it, a minor misdemeanor.

In August, in the 800 block of Pike Street, Marietta, Bright reportedly failed to stop when ordered and then was allegedly found with methamphetamine.

¯ Allen L. Patterson, 44, of 391 Echo Valley Road, Waterford, was indicted in two separate cases.

In the first case, he was indicted on one count of having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony; one count of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony; and one count of aggravated menacing, a fifth-degree felony.

He was allegedly found with a firearm in February in his vehicle after being convicted in March 2015 of aggravated arson in the Noble County Court of Common Pleas.

He also allegedly caused an individual to believe he would cause serious physical harm to her. At the time of the offense, the victim was an officer or employee of a public children services agency and the offense related to the performance of official responsibilities or duties.

In the second case, he was indicted on one count of identity fraud, a fifth-degree felony; and one count of petty theft, a first-degree misdemeanor.

He allegedly used identifying information of Edward Angel without his permission in June 2019. He also reportedly stole property, including speakers, air compressor, quilts, books, clothing and an oak shelf from 1100 B Gilman Ave., Marietta.

¯ Three individuals were indicted after a breaking and entering and theft in December at 11565 State Route 676, Vincent.

Ryan Michael Efaw,24, last known address of 180 Main St., Vincent, was indicted on three charges, including two counts of breaking and entering, both fifth-degree felonies; and one count of grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony.

Ashana Dawn Long, 29, of 470 King Ave., Cutler, was indicted on one count of breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony; and one count of grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony.

Robert Justin Wells, 39, last known address of 3491 E State Route 60, McConnelsville, was indicted on one count of breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony.

Efaw and Long allegedly broke into Decker Drilling with the purpose to commit a felony in December. They reportedly stole a Ford F-350 pick-up truck. Efaw and Wells allegedly broke into a storage building belonging to Decker Drilling with the purpose to commit theft.

¯ Matthew Ryan Williams, 32, of 2908 Sealy Ridge Road, Vincent, was indicted on one count of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony. From Dec. 1 through Jan. 3, he allegedly had sexual contact with a juvenile who was 6 years old at the time.

¯ Brandon L. Gibbs, 28, of 321 10th St., Marietta, was indicted on one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. He was reportedly found with acetyl fentanyl in November at Seventh and Greene streets, Marietta.

¯ Alex Patterson, 26, of 2150 6th St. NE, Canton, was indicted on three charges, including one count of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony; one count of illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor; and one count of possession of marijuana, a minor misdemeanor.

He allegedly transported a loaded 9mm pistol in his vehicle in January on Interstate 77 in Macksburg. The gun and $1,300 in suspected drug proceeds are subject to forfeiture.

¯ Robin L. Wright, 57, of 711 Second St., Marietta, was indicted on one count of cruelty to companion animals, a fifth-degree felony. It was reported by the Marietta Police Department that Wright shot the family’s 9-year-old German Shepherd four times in the head in March.

¯ Lisa L. Rogers, 56, of 103 Grove Ave. Apt. B, Clarksburg, W.Va., was indicted on one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. She was allegedly found in August 2019 with methamphetamine.

¯ Allen Bernard Biehl, 49, of Marietta, was indicted on two counts of domestic violence, both fourth-degree felonies. He allegedly caused harm to two family members in May. He had previously been convicted of domestic violence in June 1994 in Marietta Municipal Court.

¯ Dustin Dewain Wade, 34, of 614 Newark Acres, Elizabeth, was indicted on one count of trespass in a habitation and one count of disrupting public services, both fourth-degree felonies.

Marietta police report a patrolman was dispatched to Greene Street in May in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival and after investigation, it was learned that Wade forced his way into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment. An argument took place during which Wade kicked the victim’s dog and shoved her to the ground.

When the victim tried calling for help, Wade grabbed the phone out of her hand, trying to prevent her from calling 911 and fled. Later the same evening, Wade returned and was captured.

¯ Samantha Brooks, 38, of 317 Third St., Beverly, was indicted on one count of grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony. She allegedly stole a Uhaul truck in April.

¯ Mitchell R. Rowles, 26, of 889 Michaelis Road, Marietta, was indicted on six charges, including one count of harassment with a bodily substance, a fifth-degree felony; one count of obstructing official business, a second-degree misdemeanor; one count of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them-OVI, a first-degree misdemeanor; one count of operation in willful and wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property, a minor misdemeanor; one count of failure to display license plate, placard or sticker, a minor misdemeanor; and one count of driving under suspension or in violation of license restriction, a first-degree misdemeanor.

A Marietta police patrolman reportedly performed a traffic stop in late January on a vehicle for running a red light. The occupant, Rowles, was allegedly found to be intoxicated and belligerent and was placed under arrest for OVI.

¯ Brenda L. Mitchem, 56, of 240 Hillcrest Drive Apt. 60, Marietta, was indicted on one count of aggravated trafficking in drugs, a second-degree felony; and one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony. She was reportedly found in January in the 700 block of Buckeye Avenue, Marietta, with methamphetamine in an amount that equals or exceeds the bulk amount, but is less than five times the bulk amount.

The offense was committed in the vicinity of Phillips Elementary School.

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