Trending
An Akron man was indicted by the Washington County Grand Jury this week on charges of aggravated possession of drugs and tampering with evidence.
Javon L. Wilson, 30, of 215 E. Spring Court, was arrested after a traffic stop Oct. 7 on Interstate 77 near milepost 13 in Aurelius Township.
Washington County Assistant Prosecutor James Schneider said Wilson was following another vehicle too close, went to pass them without using a turn signal, and then drove back in front of the other vehicle, causing them to hit their brakes.
He was pulled over and law enforcement learned there was a warrant from Summit County for domestic violence.
Schneider said Wilson admitted to having half a gram of methamphetamine.
"Officers believe it was more than that," said Schneider. "He threw it in a drink container. His car was searched and they found two sodas in paper cups."
He said one cup had ice and what appeared to be orange soda. The other cup had either cola or root beer, along with ice and what police believe was the methamphetamine.
The drinks were poured into plastic evidence containers and sent for testing. The darker soda was confirmed to contain dissolved methamphetamine.
The amount of drugs found exceeded 100 times the bulk amount, which is 3 grams.
"In Ohio, if drugs are found in a substance, it's not just the weight of the drug, but the weight of liquid, not including the container," explained Schneider.
The weight of the liquid containing the drug was 387 grams.
Schneider said Wilson probably had no more than a third-degree felony with the original amount of drug, but when he dumped it in the drink, he turned it into a first-degree felony.
He faces a maximum of 14 years in prison.
Other indictments include:
¯ Shawn E. Covey, 44, homeless, was indicted on one count of harassment with a bodily substance, a fifth-degree felony; one count of criminal damaging or endangering, a second-degree misdemeanor; one count of obstructing official business, a second-degree misdemeanor; and one count of disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.
Marietta Police officers reported they responded March 12 to Marietta Memorial Hospital regarding an out of control patient. Units arrived to find the suspect, Covey, had damaged hospital property and was being aggressive and belligerent with hospital staff. While being taken into custody, Covey tried to spit phlegm on an officer, who blocked it with his glove.
¯ Nathan Gerald Strausbaugh, 37, homeless, was indicted on one count of failure to appear as required by recognizance, a fourth-degree felony. He was to appear April 6 at a final pre-trial hearing for the underlying crimes of aggravated possession of drugs and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, both fifth-degree felonies.
¯ Jesse R. Shafer, 36, of 226 Broughton Ave., Marietta, was indicted on one count of failure to appear as required by recognizance, a fourth-degree felony. Shafer was to appear in common pleas court on April 6 after being convicted of a felony.
¯ Jeremy F. Harris, 43, of 202 36th St. Apt. B, Parkersburg, was indicted on one count of failure to appear as required by recognizance, a fourth-degree felony. He was to appear in common pleas court April 16 for a final pre-trial hearing for the underlying felony crimes of two counts of forgery and one count of theft.
¯ William J. Saylor, 40, of 731 Glendale Road Apt. 2, Marietta, was indicted on one count of failure to appear as required by recognizance, a fourth-degree felony. He was to appear in court April 16 after being convicted of a felony.
¯ Tina M. Curry, 54, of 220 E. Spring St., Marietta, was indicted on one count of failure to appear as required by recognizance, a fourth-degree felony. She was to appear in court April 19 after being convicted of a felony.
¯ Eric T. Kendall, 45, of 220 E. Spring St., Marietta, was indicted on one count of failure to appear as required by recognizance, a fourth-degree felony. He was to appear in court April 19 after being convicted of a felony.
¯ Zachary R. Ferguson, 25, of 533 1/2 Second St., Marietta, was indicted on one count of corrupting another with drugs, a second-degree felony, and one count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony. From Nov. 1, 2019, through Jan. 31, 2020, he allegedly provided methamphetamine to a juvenile who was 15 or 16 at the time of the offense. During this time frame, he also reportedly engaged in sexual conduct with the juvenile.
¯ Ashley N. Mayle, 30, of 116 Lincoln Road, Marietta, was indicted on six counts of corrupting another with drugs, all fourth-degree felonies, and one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony. She was arrested along with Zachary Ferguson and Brennan Holshu for allegedly giving three juveniles methamphetamine and marijuana.
¯ Brennan M. Holshu, 33, of 752 Covey Court, Belpre, was indicted on one count of corrupting another with drugs, a fourth-degree felony. He was arrested with Zachary Ferguson and Ashley Mayle for reportedly giving a juvenile marijuana.
¯ Michael R. Martin, 30, of 306 North First Ave., Paden City, W.Va., was indicted on one count of grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony. He allegedly stole a John Deere Gator 825m UTV from Bridgeport Equipment in May 2020.
¯ Barry M. Wolfe, 30, of Marietta, was indicted on one count of disrupting public services, a fourth-degree felony, and domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor. He reportedly caused harm to a woman on Feb. 22 on Third Street, Marietta, and stopped her from calling law enforcement.
¯ James D. Rhodes, 45, of Newport, was indicted on one count of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony. He allegedly caused harm to a woman on Nov. 26 in Newport. He was previously convicted of domestic violence on June 19, 2008, in Marietta Municipal Court.
¯ Myles Lealand Merew, 42, of Belpre, was indicted on one count of disrupting public services, a fourth-degree felony, one count of domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor, and one count of resisting arrest, a second-degree misdemeanor. He allegedly caused harm to a woman on April 3 and tried to stop her from contacting law enforcement.
¯ Chadwick D. Lamp, 38, of 27317 State Route 7, Apt. C, Marietta, was indicted on one count of theft from a person in a protected class, a fifth-degree felony. He allegedly deprived an elderly woman of residential electrical services without her consent in February.
Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.