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A Belpre man was indicted by the Washington County Grand Jury this week on one count of first-degree felony rape.
Brian S. Church, 44, of 1457 Poplar Ave., was one of 18 true-billed defendants indicted.
Washington County Prosecutor Nicole Coil said the victim met a co-worker at Church's home during a New Year's Eve party.
"(She) had been drinking given the nature of the party, but she did not feel it was an excessive amount," Coil said. "When she tried to leave, someone would not let her have her keys and she and her co-worker decided to spend the night."
Coil said the victim thought she was just sharing a room with her co-worker, but she awakened to Church performing oral sex on her.
"She asked him to stop, and tried to get away, but he then proceeded to turn her over on her stomach and had anal sex with her," she said. "Unfortunately, her co-worker had left the home before this happened, and was no longer in the room with her."
The victim reported the sexual assault to the Belpre Police Department and a rape kit was performed at Marietta Memorial Hospital, Coil said.
"Mr. Church was interviewed and denied any sexual contact with (the victim). However, the results from the lab indicated otherwise," she said.
Other indictments include:
¯ Geoffrey A. Crum, 31, of 710 Elm St., Belpre, was indicted on one count of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, and vehicular manslaughter, a second-degree misdemeanor.
Coil said the manslaughter charge was a misdemeanor instead of a felony because "it was an accident".
She said Crum wasn't drinking or texting while driving and he "didn't commit any crimes."
The incident was in January on Ohio 821 near Marietta. Crum reportedly hit Salem Township Volunteer Firefighter Jarrod Grosklos, 37, of Lowell, in a head-on collision.
¯ Michelle M. Frame, aka Michelle M. Venham, 26, of 145 Vickers Road, Marietta, 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 receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony; and one count of violation of speed limits, a minor misdemeanor.
Frame was involved in a police chase in March that ended in a crash in Parkersburg.
Belpre Police said the pursuit began after a scanner on a Belpre Police officer's cruiser identified the plates on a 2001 Toyota Highlander as being reported stolen. The officer ran the plates and confirmed the report, then attempted to pull the vehicle over, according to reports.
The vehicle, with Frame reportedly at the wheel, fled across the Belpre Bridge into downtown Parkersburg. Parkersburg Police were notified and joined the pursuit.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Wood County Magistrate Court, the Highlander traveled along Lynn Street, 19th Street and St. Marys Avenue at speeds in excess of 60 mph.
The driver of the vehicle was apprehended after hitting two police cruisers during the chase, reports said.
¯ Bryce M. Stacy, 23, of 1624 Hill St., Belpre, was indicted on one count of grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, a third-degree felony. In September, Stacy reportedly stole a black Taurus semi-automatic pistol from a Belpre residence.
¯ Kirkland M. Dennewitz, 26, last known address of 38 Suzanne St., Little Hocking, was indicted on one count of failure to provide notice of change of address, a fourth-degree felony. He reportedly failed to notify the sheriff of a change of address after being convicted in 2016 of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
¯ Thomas Nicholas Jordan, 27, last known address of 4861 N. Torch Road, Coolville, was indicted on one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. He was arrested after allegedly being found with methamphetamine in December 2020 on U.S. 50 in Belpre.
¯ Courtney Clayton, 29, of 218 Broughton Ave., Marietta, and Jonathan Williams, age and address unknown, were each indicted on one count of aggravated possession of drugs and one count of possession of a fentanyl-related compound, both fifth-degree felonies. They were arrested after allegedly being found with the MDMA and fentanyl-related drugs in November 2018, on Ohio 7 in Marietta.
¯ Cody Edward Witham, 28, of 275 Belavista Drive, Marietta, was indicted on one count of theft, a fifth-degree felony. From June 1, 2019, through Oct. 13, 2020, Witham reportedly stole money from William Ford Trucking.
¯ Jeffrey Michael Peer, 20, of 105 Dudley Ave., Marietta, was indicted on one count of burglary, a second-degree felony; and one count of theft and one count of theft from a person in a protected class, both fifth-degree felonies. He reportedly stole a check for $176 from a Veto Road resident in May 2021.
¯ Aaron Thomas Bordas, 24, of 1159 Pumpkin Knob Road, Waverly, W.Va., was indicted on one count of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fifth-degree felony. He allegedly had a loaded firearm in his vehicle when he was under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of the two. Subject to forfeit is a black Taurus 9mm handgun with 50 rounds and one casing.
¯ Kenneth Allen Ankrom, 42, of 80 Mountaineer Drive, Williamstown, was indicted on two counts of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, both fourth-degree felonies. He allegedly had a loaded firearm in a vehicle where it was easily accessible in January. Subject to forfeit is a Melior Liege .22 caliber pistol and a Raven Arms Co. MP-25 .25 caliber handgun.
¯ Jason T. Mace, 38, of 602 Phillip St., Belpre, was indicted on one count of having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony. In March, he was allegedly found with a handgun during a traffic stop on Ohio 7 in Marietta. Subject to forfeit is a Sentinel Deluxe .22 caliber revolver.
¯ Jamie L. Spears, 29, of 1334 Broadway Ave., Parkersburg, was indicted on one count of possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fourth-degree felony. Spears was allegedly found with the drug in August at Ohio Avenue and Putnam Howe Drive in Belpre.
¯ Coy L. Smallwood, 30, of 164 Anderson Road, Fleming, was indicted on one count of failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony. He allegedly fled from law enforcement in February after receiving a signal to stop his vehicle.
¯ Darren C. Farnese, 27, of 111 W. Montgomery St. Lot 17, Marietta, was indicted on one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. He was reportedly found in November with hydrocodone at Glendale Drive and N. Seventh Street.
¯ James F. O'Brien II, 44, of Marietta, was indicted on three counts of domestic violence and two counts of disrupting public service, all fourth-degree felonies. In October, he allegedly attempted to harm three family members and stopped them from calling law enforcement for help. He was previously convicted of domestic violence on Jan. 5, 2018, in Marietta Municipal Court.
¯ William D. Richards, 33, of 101 Theis Ave. Lot 6, Marietta, was indicted on one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. He was arrested after allegedly having methamphetamine in January 2020 at milepost 23 on Ohio 7.
Michele Newbanks can be reached at
mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.