The Washington County Grand Jury recently indicted a New Matamoras man involved in a fatal crash in June 2019.

The grand jury indicted Joseph Barnes, 26, of 17669 County Road 9, on six charges, including one count of aggravated vehicular homicide, a first-degree felony; one count of second-degree vehicular homicide, a second-degree felony; one count of vehicular assault, a second-degree felony; and two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them-OVI, both first-degree misdemeanors.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Barnes struck a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu driven by 87-year-old Robert Ryan of Graysville on Ohio 260 near New Matamoras.

Barnes was headed westbound in a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado when he traveled left of center and struck Ryan’s vehicle head-on, according to the patrol.

Barnes was transported to Marietta Memorial Hospital with serious injuries. Ryan succumbed to the injuries he sustained in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene.

A passenger in Ryan’s vehicle, Donald G. Hendershot, 57, of New Matamoras, also sustained serious injuries and was life flighted by Med Flight from the scene.

“Hendershot survived the injuries, but has since passed away,” said Washington County Assistant Prosecutor David Silwani. “As of now, Mr. Hendershot was released from the hospital, so he was alive at the time of the offense. As evidence stands right now, we do not believe his death was caused by the accident, but that is subject to change.”

Silwani said based on the lab work that came back from Barnes, he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. He was also under an OVI suspension on April 20, 2019, from Mount Vernon Municipal Court in Knox County.

“This offense occurred in June. I believe he was still on probation for his OVI,” he added.

As Barnes was driving with a suspended license, it elevated the offense from a second-degree felony to a first-degree felony.

Other indictments include:

¯ Bobbie Sue Davis, 36, of 19 High St., Vincent, was indicted on one count of grand theft, a fourth-degree felony. She allegedly stole 18 items of jewelry in April which consisted of rings, earrings and necklaces, from Violet M. Smith. The property is valued at more than $7,500.

¯ Peter Grant Hafner, 31, of 106 Riley Drive Apt. 8, Marietta, was indicted on one count of trafficking in heroin, a fourth-degree felony, and one count of possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony. In April 2018, he was arrested after allegedly attempting to sell less than a gram of heroin in the vicinity of a young child.

¯ Jolanda Nicole Barber, 32, of 106 Riley Drive Apt. 8, Marietta, was indicted on four counts, including one count of trafficking in heroin, a fourth-degree felony; one count of possession of heroin, a fifth-degree felony; one count of permitting drug abuse, a fifth-degree felony; and one count of endangering children, a first-degree misdemeanor. Along with Peter Grant Hafner, Barber was arrested in April 2018 after allegedly attempting to sell less than a gram of heroin in the vicinity of a young child. She was charged with permitting drug abuse as she was the occupant of the apartment in question.

¯ Shaun Patrick Husk, 18, of 916 Springdale Drive, Akron, was indicted on one count of the third-degree felony failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer. Police tried to pull him over in August on Interstate 77 near mile post 16 in Macksburg, but he refused to stop.

¯ Rex A. Griffin, 55, of 1572 Elizabeth St., Belpre, was indicted on one count of having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony, and one count of using weapons while intoxicated, a first-degree misdemeanor.On May 26, officers responded to East Muskingum Park for a report of a man down. They located Griffin at the bottom of the concrete steps that lead to the river bank, lying face down in eight to 12 inches of mud. A few feet away, officers located a loaded handgun and a half empty bottle of liquor.

¯ Eric Neff, 29, of 36633 Harrietsville Road, Lower Salem, was indicted on one count of trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, and one count of possession of a fentanyl-related compound, both first-degree felonies. He was listed as a major drug offender. He was arrested Sept. 8 after a traffic stop yielded 176.28 grams of fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.

Agents with the Washington County Major Crimes Task Force were sitting stationary on Interstate 77 when a vehicle was observed traveling southbound in the right lane. The driver made suspicious movements and agents began to follow the vehicle. While agents were following the car, the driver made quick, dangerous moves. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle, and Neff, who was driving, said he understood why he was being stopped, due to his hesitation in driving. He reportedly told agents he was returning from child visitation in Columbus, where he lived in the past.

Along with Eric Neff, Velinda Bernice Berga, 21, last known address of 101 Theis Ave. Lot 15, Marietta, was arrested after a traffic stop yielded 176.28 grams of fentanyl on Sept. 8. She was indicted on one count of trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, and one count of possession of a fentanyl-related compound, both first-degree felonies. She was also listed as a major drug offender.

¯ Levi J. Lake, 30, last known address of Pennock Trailer Court, Beverly, was indicted on one count of failure to appear as required by recognizance, a fourth-degree felony, and one count of having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony. He failed to appear in court on Sept. 3 for a status conference pre-trial hearing for an underlying felony crime of possession of drugs, a third-degree felony, and improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony.

¯ Amber D. Boyd, 31, of 26950 Ridge Road, Coolville, was indicted on one count of failure to appear as required by recognizance, a fourth-degree felony. She failed to appear Sept. 4 in court for a final pre-trial hearing for an underlying felony crime of possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

¯ Kendra M. Rush, 31, of 126 Veto Road, Vincent, was indicted on one count of receiving stolen property, a fifth-degree felony. In March 2018 at U.S. 50 near milepost 7, she was found with a stolen license plate belonging to Brandon Kleeberger.

¯ Douglas Stanley Cline, 42, of 1495 Scotts Ridge Road, Whipple, was indicted on one count of burglary, a third-degree felony. He reportedly broke into 1399 Scotts Ridge Road, Whipple, in July.

¯ Keryn A. Miller, 37, of 1177 County Road 9, Marietta, was indicted on one count of failure to appear as required by recognizance, a fourth-degree felony. She failed to appear Aug. 31 after being released in connection with a theft charge.

¯ Bernard C. Lemley III, 37, of 522 Reed St., Parkersburg, was indicted on one count of failure to appear as required by recognizance, a fourth-degree felony. He failed to appear Sept. 4 for a final pre-trial hearing for an underlying felony crime of theft, a fourth-degree felony.

¯ Taevion T. Thompson, 21, of 733 Storer Ave., Akron, was indicted on one count of failure to appear as required by recognizance, a fourth-degree felony. He failed to appear Sept. 4 for sentencing after pleading guilty to possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a second-degree felony..

¯ Sabrina D. Seevers, 40, of 506 Morningside Ave., Parkersburg, was indicted on four charges, including one count of aggravated trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony; one count of falsification, a first-degree misdemeanor; one count of driving under suspension or in violation of license restriction, a first-degree misdemeanor; and one count of illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.

Washington County Assistant Prosecutor Joe Derkin said this indictment was attached to a case indicted in February.

In February, she was indicted on four charges, including one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; one count of illegal conveyance of drugs onto the grounds of a detention facility or institution, a third-degree felony; one count of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine, a fourth-degree felony; and one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.

¯ Steven L. Sayre, 36, of 1940 State Route 555, Little Hocking, was indicted on four charges, including felonious assault, a second-degree felony; one count of disrupting public services, a fourth-degree felony; one count of domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor; and one count of criminal damaging or endangering, a second-degree misdemeanor.

Reportedly, a deputy was dispatched May 28 to meet with a woman in reference to an assault that had occurred at 1940 State Route 555, Belpre, by Sayre. She advised a disagreement broke out between her and Sayre, with him throwing her down on the bed and punching her. She said Sayre also dragged her through the hallway, into the living room, in front of children and an adult. The woman further stated that Sayre picked up a hoe handle and struck her with it twice, as well as taking her phone and throwing it through the back glass of her car.

¯ Dykeem R. McCall, 23, last known address of 210 N. 10th St., Cambridge, was indicted on one count of escape, a third-degree felony.

Silwani said a prisoner can petition to be put on conditional control in a halfway house.

“They are still serving their prison sentence, but they are doing it in a halfway house,” he explained. “If you leave without permission, technically you are escaping prison.”

McCall was serving an underlying charge from outside Washington County.

¯ Thomas Ogle Davis, 39, of 20475 State Route 60, Beverly, was indicted on five charges, including one count of complicity in the commission of an offense, a third-degree felony; one count of aggravated trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony; two counts of trafficking in drugs, both fifth-degree felonies; and one count of having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony.

According to reports from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to Davis’ home on June 17 in reference to an unresponsive man. The man was administered numerous doses of Narcan while being transported to the hospital. Davis was transported to Noble County on an outstanding warrant and after deputies were granted a search warrant for his home, they found three people hiding inside.

Two weeks later, Davis was arrested after allegedly distributing methamphetamine, Xanax and Klonopin. He was found in possession of a firearm, after he was convicted of a felony in Noble County in February 2018.

¯ Dominic William Mincks, 22, last known address of 19705 State Route 821, Macksburg, was indicted on three charges, including one count of aggravated trafficking in drugs, a third-degree felony; one count of receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony; and one count of having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony. He was arrested at the home of Thomas Ogle Davis on July 30 for allegedly distributing methamphetamine. He was found with a 2012 silver Chevy Impala belonging to Adam Reynolds, and a firearm after being convicted of a felony in Noble County in June 2019.

¯ Casey Alexis Anderson, 24, of 20475 State Route 60, Beverly, was indicted on one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto grounds of a specified governmental facility, a third-degree felony. Anderson was arrested June 17 at her home. Her case is connected to the June 17 charges against Thomas Ogle Davis.

¯ Ryan Matheny, 34, of 122 Kentucky Ave., Marietta, was indicted on one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony. He was arrested in March 2019 near the intersection of Second and Washington streets in Marietta after allegedly being found with 8.759 grams of methamphetamine.

¯ Ryan Beardsley, 26, of 1107 Colonial Drive, Marietta, was indicted on one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. He was arrested in December 2017 at Butler and Second streets in Marietta after being found with methamphetamine.

¯ Zane Ullman, 20, of 708 Hill St., Parkersburg, was indicted on one count of trafficking in marijuana, a fifth-degree felony, and one count of illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor. He was arrested in January 2019 at the Putnam Street Bridge in Marietta after being found with 132.5674 grams of marijuana.

Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.