UPDATED: Hillsboro man charged with murder, felonious assault

The suspect accused of causing a man’s death in a Hillsboro business parking lot has been charged with murder, after a Highland County grand jury handed down a seven-count indictment Tuesday, July 7.

Javen Austin Meadows, 23, of Hillsboro was charged with two counts of murder, an unclassified felony; one count of attempted murder, a first-degree felony; two counts of felonious assault, both second-degree felonies; one count of strangulation, a fourth-degree felony; and a forfeiture specification.

As reported by www.fox19.com, court records said that Meadows entered a South High Street business in a Ford F-150 just after 2:30 a.m. May 31, ramming another truck before parking. Meadows allegedly exited the vehicle and went over to the truck he hit, before grabbing a woman by the neck and throwing her to the ground, the report said.

As Meadows drove off, he allegedly ran over and fatally injured a 49-year-old man who was attempting to intervene, police said.

Meadows is charged under two different statutes for murder. The first alleges that on or about May 31, he “did purposely cause the death” of a victim. The other charge alleges that on the same date, Meadows “did knowingly cause the death of [the victim] as a proximate result of committing or attempting to commit felonious assault.”

For a second victim, Meadows is charged with “purposely or knowingly and with sufficient culpability … engaging in conduct that, if successful would constitute or result in a violation” of the Ohio Revised Code statute for murder. Meadows is further accused of “knowingly causing or creating a substantial risk of physical harm” to the second victim “by means of strangulation or suffocation.”

Meadows is also accused of “causing or attempting to cause physical harm” to the second victim “by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance,” the truck he was allegedly operating, against the second victim as well as a third victim. 
 
The truck Meadows is alleged to have “had in his possession and owned [and] used … in the above-listed crimes” is subject to forfeiture.

In other indictments during Tuesday’s grand jury session:

• Levi Dean Moberly, 25, was charged with five counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, all second-degree felonies. 

All five counts involve the time period of October 2025-January 2026. It is alleged that Moberly “did, with knowledge of the character of the material or performance involved, promote or advertise for sale or dissemination, sell, deliver, disseminate, display, exhibit, present, rent or provide, or offer or agree to sell, deliver disseminate, display, exhibit, present, rent or provide, obscene material that has a minor or impaired person as one of its participants or portrayed observers.”

• Dwight B. Hickel, 35, of Chillicothe 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 June 9, Hickel “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.” It is further alleged that “the operation of the motor vehicle by [Hickel] caused a substantial risk of serious physical harm to persons or property.”

• Austin Thomas McIntyre, 23, of Peebles was charged with failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony. McIntyre is accused of “operating 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 incident is alleged to have occurred on or about May 21 “in Highland County and as a continuing course of criminal conduct in Brown County.”

• Denver L. Melampy, 46, of Wilmington was charged with one count each of misuse of a credit card and receiving stolen property, both fifth-degree felonies.

During a period from March-June, Melampy is accused of “receiving, retaining or disposing of” a credit card belonging to another individual while “knowing or having reasonable cause to believe said property had been obtained through the commission of a theft offense.”

He is further charged with “obtaining property or services by the use of a credit card” in a 90-day period while “knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the card has expired or been revoked, or was obtained, is retained or is being used in violation of the law.” According to the indictment, the card belonged to an elderly victim.

• McKenzie A. Cowman, 33, of Hillsboro was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.

• Donald E. Johnson, 51, of Mount Sterling was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.

• Johnny Wright Jr., 53, 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.

Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 28 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.