Highland County Task Force makes 5 arrests following grand jury session
Five of the seven secret indictments from the Oct. 1 Highland County grand jury session were unsealed Wednesday, after law enforcement conducted multiple arrests Tuesday night.
According to Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins, officers with the Highland County Task Force arrested four men and one woman during the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 1, following the defendants’ respective indictments on drug charges.
Those arrested include:
• Joey Fender, 46, of Hillsboro, who was charged with three counts each of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine and aggravated possession of methamphetamine, all third-degree felonies.
A co-defendant, Christopher Burns, 41, of Hillsboro was charged jointly with Fender on one count each of aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine and aggravated possession of methamphetamine.
Fender is accused of “knowingly obtaining, possessing or using,” and “knowingly selling or offering to sell,” meth in an amount equal to or exceeding bulk amount but less than five times bulk amount on three separate dates: June 11, June 19 and June 29. Burns was charged with the same alleged crimes for the alleged June 29 incident only.
• Kevin Steward, 63, of Greenfield, who was charged with three counts each of trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, all fourth-degree felonies.
Steward is accused of “knowingly obtaining, possessing or using,” and “knowingly selling or offering to sell,” fentanyl in an amount equal to or exceeding one gram but less than five grams on or about three different dates: Jan. 26, Feb. 22 and Feb. 23.
• Francis Jordan, 47, of Greenfield, who was charged with two counts each of trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, all fourth-degree felonies.
The indictment alleges that or about Feb. 6 and again on or about Feb. 13, Jordan “knowingly obtained, possessed or used,” and “knowingly sold or offered to sell,” a fentanyl-related compound in an amount equal to or exceeding one gram but less than five grams.
• Chase Huntsman, 29, of Greenfield, who was charged with one count each of aggravated trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony, and aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony.
The indictment alleges that on or about Feb. 21, Huntsman “knowingly obtained, possessed or used,” and “did knowingly sell or offer to sell,” oxycodone.
An indictment is merely a charge and is not evidence of guilt.
To read more about the grand jury’s October indictments, see the story at: https://highlandcountypress.com/news/13-individuals-indicted-highland-c….
The Highland County Task Force has a Facebook page and takes anonymous and confidential tips regarding substance abuse and trafficking in Highland County. You can also provide information directly to a member of the Task Force by calling the Highland County Prosecutor’s Office at (937) 393-1851. To learn more about the Task Force’s history, go to: https://highlandcountypress.com/news/highland-county-task-force-begins-….
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