13 indicted by Highland County grand jury in 1st session of 2026
A Hillsboro man accused of robbery and aggravated menacing was among the 13 individuals indicted by a Highland County grand jury in their Tuesday, Jan. 6 session.
Larry L. Hutton, 29, of Hillsboro was charged with robbery, a second-degree felony, and aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor.
It is alleged that on or about Dec. 10, Hutton “did, in attempting, or committing a theft offense … or in fleeing immediately after the attempt or offense, inflict, attempt to inflict or threaten to inflict physical harm” on a victim. On the same date, Hutton is accused of “knowingly causing” a second victim “to believe that [Hutton] would cause serious physical harm to the person or property of” the victim “or that person’s unborn or a member of the victim’s immediate family.”
In other indictments:
• Christopher Rump, 52, of Sardinia was charged with having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony; aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony; and a forfeiture specification.
Rump is accused of “knowingly acquiring having, carrying or using a firearm” on or about Oct. 30. According to the indictment, Rump has not been relieved from disability due to a previous conviction of aggravated possession of drugs. Also on Oct. 30, Rump is accused of “knowingly obtaining, possessing or using” psilocin in an amount equaling or exceeding bulk amount but less than five times bulk amount. A handgun is subject to forfeiture due to its alleged instrumentality in the commission or facilitation of the offense.
• Bryce Penwell, 35, of Portsmouth and Megan Penwell, 28, of Greenfield were charged jointly with one count each of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine and aggravated possession of methamphetamine, both third-degree felonies.
It is alleged that on or about Nov. 9, Bryce and Megan Penwell “knowingly obtained, possessed or used,” and “knowingly prepared for shipment, shipped, transported, delivered, prepared for distribution or distributed” meth in an amount equal to or exceeding bulk amount but less than five times bulk amount.
• Donald Hostetter, 47, of Hillsboro was charged with failure to register a change of address as a registered sex offender, a third-degree felony.
It is alleged that on or about Oct. 22 and continuing thereafter, Hostetter “failed to provide notice of any change of address within 20 days by written notice.” According to the indictment, Hostetter has “a duty to register semiannually and 20 days before an address change and within three days of an address change” as a tier II registered sex offender.
• Hayden L. Knisley, 19, of Hillsboro was charged with improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, plus a forfeiture specification.
It is alleged that on or about Nov. 20, Knisley “knowingly transported or had a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle in such a manner that the firearm was accessible to the operator or a passenger without leaving the vehicle.” The firearm allegedly in his possession is subject to forfeiture.
• Sabastian Alexander, 42, of Chillicothe was charged with possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony.
• Rex Bondurant Jr., 39, of Bainbridge was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.
• Patsy Cody, 37, of Wilmington was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.
• Neil Hurt, 42, of Lynchburg was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.
• John T. Layne II, 42, of Hillsboro was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.
• Bobbi Jo Nyman, 50, of Hillsboro was charged with disseminating matter harmful to juvenile, a fifth-degree felony.
• Nicholas R. Payne, 45, of Hillsboro was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.
An indictment is merely a charge and is not evidence of guilt.
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