Highland County grand jury indicts 30 in June session
A Frankfort man accused of pandering obscenity involving a minor was among 30 individuals indicted during the Tuesday, June 6 Highland County grand jury session.
Seth R. Beatty, 20, was charged with two second-degree felony counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor. It is alleged that on or about April 25, Beatty “did, with knowledge of the character of the material or performance involved, create, record, photograph, film, develop, reproduce or publish material that shows a minor participating or engaging in sexual activity.”
In other indictments:
• Halley L.J. Pollard, 29, of Hillsboro was charged with illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility, a third-degree felony; and aggravated possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony.
It is alleged that on or about Oct. 21, Pollard “did knowingly convey, or attempt to convey,” a fentanyl-related compound into the Highland County Sheriff’s Office.
• Randall J. Parks, 38, of Mount Orab was charged with having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony; and a forfeiture specification.
It is alleged that on or about April 18, Parks “did knowingly acquire, have, carry or use” a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun, which is subject to forfeiture due to its instrumentality in the alleged offense. Parks has a prior conviction for illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs in Brown County, according to the indictment.
• In an unrelated case, Dustin J. Schwalbauch, aka Dustin J. Schwalbaugh, 33, of Hillsboro was also indicted on one count of having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony, and a forfeiture specification.
It is alleged that on or about May 9, Schwalbauch “did knowingly acquire, have, carry or use” a 12-gauge shotgun, which is subject to forfeiture. He has a previous conviction of aggravated assault in Highland County, the indictment says.
• David A. Hutton, 29, of Mowrystown was charged with illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of methamphetamine, a third-degree felony. The indictment alleges that on or about April 14, Hutton “did knowingly assemble or possess one or more chemicals that may be used to manufacture” meth.
• Joey A. Ison, 44, of Latham was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a third-degree felony. On or about Oct. 22, it is alleged that Ison “did knowingly obtain, possess or use” meth “in an amount equal to or exceeding bulk amount but less than five times bulk amount.”
• Timothy J. Williams Jr., 30, of Franklin Furnace was charged with failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony. It is alleged that on or about May 14, Williams “did operate a motor vehicle … so as willfully to elude or flee or a police officer after receiving a visible or audible signal” to stop. It is alleged the “operation of the motor vehicle by the offender caused a substantial risk of serious physical harm to persons or property,” the indictment says.
• Misty S. Daniels, 34, of Hillsboro was charged with endangering children, a fourth-degree felony; and aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.
It is alleged that on or about May 5, Daniels “did knowingly obtain, possess or use” meth. On the same date, she is accused of “creating a substantial risk to the health or safety” of a child.
• James L. Duffield, 55, of Hillsboro was charged with pandering obscenity involving a minor, a fourth-degree felony. It is alleged that on or about June 2, 2022, Duffield did “knowingly buy, procure, possess or control any obscene material … that has a minor as one of its participants.”
• Dylan M. Harner, 25, of Leesburg was charged with failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony, in connection with a previous indictment in Highland County Common Pleas Court.
• Marshall Heiss, 41, of Greenfield was charged with one count each of forgery and theft by deception, both fifth-degree felonies. It is alleged that in March, Heiss “did utter” a check while “knowing it to have been forged.” He is accused of “knowingly obtaining or exerting control over” $3,710.55 from an area bank “by deception.”
• Sabastian C. Blount, 30, of Albany, Ga., was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.
• Matthew S. Jackson, 34, of Greenfield was charged with aggravated possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony.
• Jessica D. Jones, 40, of Hillsboro was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.
• Steven R. Pope, 45, of London was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.
• Jason Storer, 47, of Lynchburg was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.
In addition to the aforementioned 16 cases, there were 14 sealed cases, according to Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins.
An indictment is merely a charge and is not evidence of guilt.