2 charged with felonious assault in April Highland County grand jury session

A Highland County grand jury handed down 20 indictments, including two unrelated felonious assault indictments, during their Tuesday, April 4 session.

Robert G. Jackson, 57, of Lynchburg was charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony; domestic violence, a third-degree felony; and abduction, also a third-degree felony.

It is alleged that on or about Feb. 28, Jackson “did knowingly cause serious physical harm” to a victim and that he “did … by force or threat, restrain the liberty” of the victim “under circumstances which create a risk of physical harm” or place the victim “in fear.”

In a separate case, Nicole J. Pierce, 42, of Hillsboro was charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony; and assault, a first-degree misdemeanor.

It is alleged that on or about March 11, Pierce “did knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm” to a victim by means of a fixed blade knife, while she is also accused of “knowingly causing or attempting to cause physical harm” to a separate victim.

In other indictments:

• Kendra D. Ward, 51, of South Salem was charged with failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony; aggravated possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony; and aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.

It is alleged that on or about Feb. 20, Ward “did operate a motor vehicle … so as willfully to elude or flee a police officer after receiving a visible or audible signal from a police officer to bring the person’s motor vehicle to a stop, and the operation of the motor vehicle by the offender caused a substantial risk of serious physical harm to persons or property.” She is accused of “knowingly obtaining, possessing or using” a fentanyl-related compound and meth on the same date.

• Tommy L. Brockman, 41, of Hillsboro was charged with failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony.

As reported by the Hillsboro Police Department, it is alleged that on Tuesday, March 14 at approximately 10:13 p.m., an officer with the Hillsboro Police Department attempted to make a traffic stop in the area of the 300 block of East Main Street.

The driver of the vehicle, identified as Brockman, allegedly failed to stop, and a subsequent vehicle pursuit began, eventually leaving the corporation limit and ending on Beechwood Lane.

• Joann S. Shapley, 44, of Greenfield was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a third-degree felony. It is alleged that on or about Dec. 17, Shapley “did knowingly obtain, possess or use” meth “in an amount equal to or exceeding bulk amount but less than five times bulk amount.”

• John H. Jennings, 53, of Hillsboro, was charged with theft from a person in a protected class, a fourth-degree felony; and one count each of theft, forgery and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, all fifth-degree felonies.

It is alleged that on various dates in February 2023, Jennings “did knowingly obtain or exert control over” property of elderly victims, including $1,225 in U.S. currency; checks; and a motor vehicle. He is also accused of writing multiple checks while “knowing them to have been forged, and the victim of the offense is an elderly person.”

• Robert T. Dool, 36, of Wildomar, Calif. was charged with failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony, in connection with a trespassing case.

• Steven R. Gibson, 51, of Hillsboro was charged with failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony, in connection with a meth possession case.

• Kelley M. Humphrey, 26, of Beavercreek was charged with failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony, in connection with a theft case.

• David A. Williams, 29, of Hillsboro was charged with failure to register a change of address as a registered sex offender, a fourth-degree felony.

It is alleged that beginning on or about Jan. 14 and continuing thereafter, Williams “failed to provide notice of any change of address within 20 days by written notice.” He is a Tier I registered sex offender and has “a duty to register annually and 20 days before an address change and within three days of an address change,” the indictment says.

• Daniel D. Hatfield, 50, of Greenfield was charged with three counts of aggravated possession of methamphetamine, all fifth-degree felonies. The separate charges stem from three separate dates in 2022 where it was alleged Hatfield “did knowingly obtain, possess or use” meth.

• Jason L. Storer, 47, of Lynchburg was charged with one count each of breaking and entering and theft, both fifth-degree felonies.

It is alleged that on or about Feb. 19, Storer did knowingly by force, stealth or deception trespass in an unoccupied Hillsboro business. Storer is accused of taking antiques, jewelry and other miscellaneous items valued between $1,000 and $7,500 from the business.

• Dennis L. Sears, 41, of Lynchburg was charged with assault on an employee of a local correctional facility, a fifth-degree felony. It is alleged that on or about Feb. 20, Sears “did knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm” to a local corrections officer while he was in the custody of the correctional facility.

• Bradley A. Clark, 39, of Greenfield was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.

• Joshua S. Hammond, 39, of Hillsboro was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.

In addition to the abovementioned cases, there were five sealed indictments, according to Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins.

An indictment is merely a charge and is not evidence of guilt.