Archive of 04-17-09

On 17 Apr 09 Deputy Sheriff Mankins issued a citation to Matthew R. Miller, age 20, 406 Potomac Court, Wexford, PA, for traveling 79 mph in a 55 mph zone. Deputy Mankins stopped Mr. Miller on State Route 7 near Joe Skinner Road in Belpre Township.

On 17 Apr 09 Dave Kendall, age 42, 165 Upper Archers Fork Road, New Matamoras, reported sometime overnight an unknown suspect(s) slashed two tires on both his 1978 Chevy truck and his son’s 1987 Chevy truck. This case remains under investigation (805).

On 17 Apr 09 Lt. Stackpole responded to the scene of death of a ninety-six year old Marietta resident. The woman’s death appears natural; no foul play is suspected.

On 17 Apr 09 Susan Combs, age 52, 38232 Goose Run Road, Dexter City, reported she just arrived at her sister’s residence on Lindamood Road in Macksburg when an individual brandished a handgun and ordered her to leave the property. Interviewing the suspect, Sgt. Eddy determined Ms. Combs’ approached the residence in an aggressive manor and the alleged suspect removed his weapon from his holster in fear that Ms. Combs may cause harm to a child at the residence. Furthermore, Sgt. Eddy concluded Ms. Combs lacked credibility. As a result, Sgt. Eddy closed this case as unfounded.

On 17 Apr 09 Deputy Sheriff K. Travaglio issued a citation to Natasha N. Miller, age 22, 5501 N State Route 60 NW Lot 4, McConnelsville, for not wearing a seat belt. Deputy Travaglio originally stopped Ms. Miller for having a cracked windshield on State Route 7 near Longacre Street in Marietta Township.

On 17 Apr 09 Judith Harris, age 66, 45359 County Road 23, Coshocton, reported during the winter she cares for her mother’s summer farm house at 175 Ellifritz Road, New Matamoras. Ms. Harris said sometime between 20 Feb and 20 Mar an unknown suspect(s) entered the home and stole a laundry basket full of towels, a TV/VCR, a stereo, three sets of sheets, five pillows, laundry soap and two blankets. This case remains under investigation (805).

On 17 Apr 09 Maranda S. Southall, age 28, 2839 Beach Drive, Belpre, reported she was attacked by her mother’s roommate who lives with them, a man she identified as James D. Johnson, age 39. Unsteady on her feet and reeking of alcohol, Ms. Southall said Mr. Johnson inflicted the injuries that left red marks on her neck and did so for no apparent reason. Contradicting Ms. Southall, Mr. Johnson said he was attacked while he slept and was bleeding from where Ms. Southall grabbed his genitals during the altercation. Unable to identify a primary aggressor, Sgt. Underwood requested summonses for Ms. Southall and Mr. Johnson for disorderly conduct by fighting.

On 17 Apr 09 Jon G. Barnes, age 64, 311 Ohio Street, Marietta, reported at some point during the past month an unknown suspect(s) pried open a storage building door on his property at 7049 Veto Road, Belpre and stole an Ohio State canopy, two folding tables and five folding chairs. This case remains under investigation (1104).

On 17 Apr 09 the manager of White Oak Pharmacy, 8465 State Route 339, Vincent, reported a male subject appearing to be between sixteen and eighteen years old left the store without paying for earrings, a candle and possibly other items. Attempts to identify the suspect have been unsuccessful. With no further leads, Deputy Sheriff Hornbeck closed this case.

FOOTPRINTS AID IN IDENTIFYING BURGLARY SUSPECTS

At 6:00 am this morning Sgt. Norman and Deputy Sheriff Reeder were dispatched to the Darrell Thieman residence at 230 Brooker Road, Marietta, to investigate a burglary. Mr. Thieman reported sometime overnight someone entered his home and stole his wallet, his cell phone, his wife’s cell phone and her purse. The persons also entered his outbuilding and stole a new Stihl chainsaw and a twelve gauge shotgun. While searching around the structure the Deputies located two fresh shoeprints one of which was on the floor of the building and the other in the mud outside.

A nearby resident, Mitchell Brooker, informed the Deputies an unknown suspect(s) entered his detached garage at 235 Brooker Road, Marietta, and stole his new Husqvarna weedeater. Additional shoe prints, matching those found at the Thieman residence, were on the dusty floor of the garage. Kenneth Wriston, 85 Brooker Road, also contacted Deputies and said he was missing property. Upon entering an outbuilding on Wriston’s property, Deputies located a Husqvarna weedeater matching the one stolen from 235 Brooker Road. Stating the item did not belong to him, Mr. Wriston said he has two friends staying with him and commented they may have information on the weed eater. As the entered the home, the Deputies found Callie Stauffer, age 32, and Tyler Bailey, age 27, both of 10260 State Route 550, Vincent, asleep on couches.

Deputies immediately noticed Mr. Bailey was wearing shoes with characteristics similar to the pattern that was left at 230 and 235 Brooker Road. Searching the home further, Deputies found two cell phones, a twelve gauge shotgun, a purse with Mr. Thieman’s wife’s belongings in it and a new chainsaw.

Questioned on the property, Mr. Bailey stated he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs last night and did not remember the incident. However, Ms. Stauffer said she went with Mr. Bailey to the neighbor’s houses and Mr. Bailey took the items. When they returned to the Wriston residence, Ms. Bailey contacted Western Union with Mrs. Thieman’s cell phone and purchased money transfers using the Thieman’s credit cards.

While Bailey was arrested for a second degree felony charge of burglary, Stauffer was arrested on a probation violation charge. Burglary charges against Stauffer are anticipated. Both suspects remain incarcerated in the Washington County Jail pending their initial court appearance Monday afternoon.

DETECTIVE’S FEDERAL TESTIMONY RESULTS IN MULTIPLE SEX OFFENSE CONVICTIONS

At the conclusion of testimony, including examination of Detective Carrie Smithberger, a federal jury in Springfield, Illinois deliberated approximately one hour before returning guilty verdicts against Jeffrey D. Chambers, 49, of Quincy, Illinois, on charges of using the internet to entice minors to engage in sexual activity and two counts of distribution of child pornography. Chambers remains detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and faces a mandatory penalty of ten years to life on the enticement charge and a mandatory penalty of five to twenty years on the child pornography charge when he is sentenced on September 14, 2009.

Detective Smithberger, who posed as an underage female on the internet, testified earlier this week during the two and a half days of trial that Chambers attempted to entice her to have sex with him. Other evidence was also presented that Chambers’ computer contained graphic images and videos of children, including toddler-aged children, engaged in sexual acts with adults.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Quincy Police Department and the Washington County Major Crimes Task Force. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The following individuals were processed into the Washington County Jail:

Chad Matthew Schwendeman, age 27, 427 Strecker Lane, Marietta, for violating the terms of his probation, a misdemeanor. Schwendeman was arrested at the office of Probation Officer Hamilton and processed into the Washington County Jail on 17 Apr 09 at 9:44 am.

Angela Marie Bouvia, age 24, 16065 US Highway 33 Apt. 113, Nelsonville, for possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor. Bouvia was arrested in Marietta Municipal Court by Patrolman Linscott of the Marietta City Police Department and processed into the Washington County Jail on 17 Apr 09 at 10:30 am.

Callie Alida Stauffer, age 33, 10260 State Route 550, Vincent, for being a fugitive from justice, for felony charges of burglary, breaking and entering a possessing a weapon while under disability and for a misdemeanor charge of violating the terms of her probation. Stauffer was arrested on Brooker Road by Deputy Sheriff Hornbeck and processed into the Washington County Jail on 17 Apr 09 at 10:50 am.

Tyler Nathaniel Bailey, age 27, 10260 State Route 550, Vincent, for burglary, breaking and entering and for possessing a weapon while under disability, all felonies. Bailey was arrested on Brooker Road by Deputy Sheriff Reeder and processed into the Washington County Jail on 17 Apr 09 at 11:30 am.

Geoffrey Lynell Watt, age 49, 138 Cameron Avenue, Winston Salem, NC, for a felony charge of domestic violence and for misdemeanor charges of failure to appear and violating the terms of a protection order. Watt was arrested on Interstate 77 by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and processed into the Washington County Jail on 17 Apr 09 at 12:30 pm.

Christopher Brian Border, age 23, 415 Shriver Road, Stockport, for failure to appear at a court ordered hearing on unpaid fines, for obstructing official business and for two counts of failure to appear, all misdemeanors. Border was picked up at the Morgan County line by Lt. Stackpole of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and processed into the Washington County Jail on 17 Apr 09 at 5:05 pm.

Benjamin Andrew Stehulak, age 23, 3165 139th Street, Cleveland, for operating a vehicle with an expired license and for speeding, both misdemeanors. Stehulak was arrested on Interstate 77 by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and processed into the Washington County Jail on 17 Apr 09 at 8:20 pm.

David Allen Sayres, age 44, 235 Watson Avenue, Fairmont, WV, for failure to appear and for failure to appear at a court ordered hearing on unpaid fines, both misdemeanors. Sayres was picked up in Belpre by Patrolman Nedeff of the Marietta City Police Department and processed into the Washington County Jail on 17 Apr 09 at 8:45 pm.

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