Skip to main content

Highland County grand jury indicts 11 in first session of 2024

By
Caitlin Forsha, The Highland County Press

A Washington Court House man charged with felonious assault and a Seaman woman charged with aggravated theft were among the first indictments handed down by a Highland County grand jury in the 2024 calendar year.

On Tuesday, Jan. 2, a grand jury indicted Durant E. Peters, 45, of Washington Court House on one count of felonious assault, a second-degree felony; one count of abduction, a third-degree felony; and one count of domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor.

The charges stem from an alleged incident on Dec. 6, where Peters is accused of “knowingly causing serious physical harm,” and “knowingly causing or attempting to cause physical harm,” to a victim. It is also alleged that Peters “knowingly by force or threat, restrained the liberty” of the victim, which “created a risk of physical harm” or “placed [the victim] in fear.”

In an unrelated case, Lori K. Greene, 48, of Seaman was charged with a second-degree felony count of aggravated theft from a person in a protected class.

It is alleged that between Jan. 1, 2019 and Dec. 1, 2023 in Highland County “and as a continuing course of criminal conduct in Adams County,” Greene “did knowingly obtain or exert control over … approximately $312,066.53” from an elderly victim.

In other indictments:

• Christopher Ghiloni, 28, of Lynchburg was charged with retaliation, a third-degree felony; harassment with bodily substance, a fifth-degree felony; and criminal damaging, a second-degree misdemeanor. 

The indictment alleges that on or about Nov. 22, Ghiloni “did purposely and by force or by unlawful threat of harm to a person or property, retaliate” against a victim who “discharged his or her duties as a public servant.” 

On the same date, it is alleged that Ghiloni “caused or attempted to cause [a] law enforcement officer to come into contact with feces by throwing the bodily substance at the law enforcement officer.”

Also on Nov. 22, Ghiloni is charged with “causing or creating a substantial risk of physical harm to a house and a vehicle” owned by a separate victim, without the victim’s consent.

• Aiden Morgan, 20, of Leesburg was charged with failure to comply with the order or signal of police officer, a third-degree felony. 

On or about Nov. 25, it is alleged that Morgan “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.” 

• Loretta Wilkin, 56, of Hillsboro was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a third-degree felony.

On or about Oct. 22, it is alleged that Wilkin “did knowingly obtain, possess or use” meth “in an amount equal to or exceeding bulk amount but less than five times bulk amount.”

• Alan W. Wybenga, 62, of Hillsboro was charged with strangulation, a fourth-degree felony; and domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor. 

It is alleged that on or about Nov. 28, Wybenga “did knowingly cause or create a substantial risk of physical harm” to a victim “by means of strangulation or suffocation.” He is also accused of “knowingly causing or attempting to cause physical harm” to a victim.

• James V. Brown Jr., 43, of Greenfield was charged with failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony, in connection with a separate 
forgery/theft by deception case in Highland County Common Pleas Court.

• Robin Robinson, 52, of Batavia with failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony, in connection with a separate drug conveyance/possession case in Highland County Common Pleas Court.

• Norman Benson Jr., 24, of Leesburg was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.

• Shawna Willey, 29, of Hillsboro was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.

In addition to the above-listed indictments, there was one sealed case, according to Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins.

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