3 indicted on second-degree felony charges during Highland County grand jury's May session

Three men were indicted on second-degree felony charges in unrelated cases Tuesday, May 6, as a Highland County grand jury handed down 18 total indictments.

• Joshua J. Dettwiller, 33, of Sabina was charged with one count each of trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, both second-degree felonies.

Both charges stem from March 7, where Dettwiller is accused of “knowingly obtaining, possessing or using” fentanyl “in an amount that equals or exceeds 100 unit doses but is less than 200 unit doses or equals 10 grams but is less than 20 grams.” On the same date, Dettwiller is charged with allegedly “knowingly preparing for shipment, shipping, transporting, delivering, preparing for distribution or distributing a fentanyl-related compound … in an amount that equals or exceeds 100 unit doses but is less than 200 unit doses or equals 10 grams but is less than 20 grams.” Dettwiller is accused of “knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the controlled substance was intended for sale or resale.”

For the second indictment involving a second-degree felony charge, Yashkumar P. Patel, 23, of Etobicoke, Ontario was charged with one count of theft by deception from a person in a protected class, a second-degree felony, and attempted theft by deception from a person in a protected class, a fourth-degree felony.

The indictment alleges that on or about April 4, Patel “did knowingly obtain or exert control over” U.S. currency valued between $37,500 and $150,000 from a victim classified as “an elderly person.” On or about April 8, Patel is accused of “engaging in conduct that, if successful, would constitute or result in” theft by deception from a person in a protected class.

As previously reported, an investigation by the Greenfield Police Department, the Highland County Sheriff's Office and the Highland County Task Force revealed someone claiming to be a federal agent from the Federal Trade Commission allegedly contacted the victim and advised that her personal information had been stolen and was being used to purchase illicit drugs, child pornography and used for money laundering. The caller said the federal government was seizing her funds until the investigation was over.   

Arrangements were allegedly made for a man posing as a federal agent to come to the victim's home, where the victim gave him $40,000. A few days later, the same male allegedly contacted the victim again and again advised she would need to pay $30,000 as part of the investigation. Becoming suspicious, the alleged victim contacted law enforcement, who arrested Patel at the alleged victim’s home.

In an unrelated indictment, Timothy B. Campbell, 57, of Bainbridge was charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony. The indictment alleges that on or about Feb. 14, Campbell “did knowingly cause serious physical harm” to a victim.

In other indictments:

• Michael W. Certain, 44, of Greenfield was charged in two separate indictments. In the first indictment, Certain was charged with one count each of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine, a third-degree felony; aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a third-degree felony; possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fourth-degree felony; and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony. In an unrelated indictment, Certain was charged with failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony.

All four counts in the first indictment allegedly stem from Jan. 28. On that date, Certain is accused of “knowingly obtaining, possessing or using,” and “knowingly preparing for shipment, shipping, transporting, delivering, preparing for distribution or distributing,” meth in an amount equal to or exceeding bulk amount but less than five times bulk amount. It is also alleged that Certain “knowingly obtained, possessed or used” fentanyl “in an amount that equals or exceeds 10 unit doses but is less than 50 unit doses or equals one gram but is less than five grams.”

On the same date, Certain is accused of “altering, destroying, concealing or removing any record, document or thing with purpose to impair its value or availability as evidence.”

The failure to appear charge alleges that Certain “did recklessly fail to appear” in Highland County Common Pleas Court April 16 for a separate seven-count indictment handed down in February.

• Donnie Jenkins Jr., 48, of Greenfield was charged with tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.

On or about Jan. 16, Jenkins is charged with allegedly “knowingly obtaining, possessing or using” meth. For the same date, it is alleged that Jenkins “did alter, destroy, conceal or remove any record, document or thing with purpose to impair its value or availability as evidence.”

• Jody Blankenship, 40, of New Vienna was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a third-degree felony. Blankenship is accused of “knowingly obtaining, possessing or using meth “in an amount that equals or exceeds bulk amount but less than five times bulk amount” on or about March 31.

• Frances E. Horney, 55, of West Union was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a third-degree felony. It is alleged that or about May 30, 2024, Horney “knowingly obtained, possessed or used” meth “in an amount that equals or exceeds bulk amount but less than five times bulk amount.”

• Joseph N. Oliver, 25, of Hillsboro 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 March 3, Oliver “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 [his] motor vehicle to a stop.” The indictment alleges that “the operation of the motor vehicle caused a substantial risk of serious physical harm to persons or property.”

• Ronald D. Knechtly, 74, 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 Feb. 10, Knechtly “failed to provide notice of any change of address within 20 days.” He is classified as a tier I sex offender, according to the indictment.

• Natosha L. Nelson, 41, of Greenfield was charged with trespass in a habitation when a person is present or likely to be present, a fourth-degree felony. It is alleged that on or about March 10, Nelson “did, by force, stealth or deception, trespass in a permanent or temporary habitation of any person when any person other than an accomplice of the offender is present or likely to be present.”

• Alanna M. Barbery, 42, of Greenfield was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.

• Todd R. Rhea Jr., 41, of Chillicothe was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.

• Timothy S. Seitz, 35, of Greenfield was charged with possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony.

In addition to the above-listed indictments, there were four sealed cases this month, according to Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins.

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

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