Georgetown man indicted on murder charges
A Brown County man accused of shooting three relatives last month has been charged in an eight-count indictment, according to Brown County Common Pleas Court records.
Noah Clifton, 24, of Georgetown was indicted on one count of aggravated murder and one count of murder, both unclassified felonies; two counts each of attempted aggravated murder and attempted murder, all first-degree felonies; and two counts of felonious assault, both second-degree felonies.
All eight charges include firearms specifications (which add an additional mandatory three-year prison term) and specifications for forfeiture of a weapon. The indictment was filed Oct. 5.
On Oct. 9, Clifton pleaded not guilty, and not guilty by reason of insanity, to all eight counts. His attorney, Aaron Maus, has filed a “suggestion that [Clifton] is not now component to stand trial.”
According to the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, “on Sept. 20 at approximately 6:29 p.m., the Brown County Dispatch Center received a report of an active shooter at 5612 Wahlsburg East Road in Brown County.
“The first arriving police unit was a Georgetown Police Officer who identified a male subject, later (allegedly) identified as Noah Clifton, 24, just outside of the residence standing near a vehicle that was running. This individual was ordered to step away from the vehicle, which he did. A handgun was observed on the ground near the subject. The subject was taken into custody without incident.
“The Patrol Officer and a Deputy made entry into the home and found two subjects who were suffering from gunshot wounds. A male subject, later identified as Ralph Neff Sr., 81, was found to have suffered a gunshot wound to the head and had died as a result of this wound.
“A female subject, later identified as Margaret Neff, 76, had suffered guns wounds to the chest and abdomen. She was transported from the scene via Air- Care. A male subject, later identified as Zachary Neff, 30, was located at an adjacent residence. He suffered a gunshot wound to the face and was transported from the scene via Air-Care.”
As of Sept. 25, Margaret Neff was still at U.C. Hospital being treated for gunshot wounds sustained as a result of this incident. Her condition was listed as stable but critical. She was awake and able to speak.
Zachary Neff was released from U.C. Hospital after being treated for a gunshot wound suffered in this incident.
Clifton is the grandson of Ralph and Margaret Neff, and Zachary Neff is his cousin.
An indictment is merely a charge and is not evidence of guilt.