Alleged robbery attempt leads to three indictments

CHILLICOTHE — An alleged attempted robbery that led to the discovery of materials commonly used to make methamphetamine resulted in three indictments handed down Friday by a Ross County grand jury.

According to Ross County Prosecutor's Office investigator Rick Hannan, Ross County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to 2276 Stone Road, Lot 10, on a call of a robbery with possible shots fired. When they arrived, the home's residents, Wesley A. Brown, 35, and Corey P. Brown, 35, reportedly said that Michael A. Williams, 42, of 3462 Pennyroyal Road, had come to the home to give them a ride to look at a used car that was for sale.

As he was calling out to them to leave, Wesley Brown reported he heard a noise at the back door and that two men entered with hand guns, ordering the Browns to the floor.

Wesley Brown refused, and one of the armed men grabbed his wallet by snapping a chain on Wesley Brown's belt and fled back out the door, officials reported. While Wesley Brown was shoving the other man out the door, he said he noticed Williams standing there.

"Witnesses say that Williams pulls up in his vehicle, two black men get out of the trunk and go into the house, exit the house, and then Williams drives them away," Hannan said.

Williams is charged with complicity to aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony carrying a possible penalty of three to 11 years in prison and a $20,000 fine if convicted. The two men who reportedly came in the back door have not been located, Hannan said.

The story doesn't end there, however. Hannan said when deputies were securing the scene, they reported they discovered numerous items believed to be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Witnesses told authorities they had seen Wesley Brown carrying a box across the street and hiding in the weeds.

When deputies recovered the box, they reported they found several items inside commonly used to manufacture the drug and were able to secure a warrant to search the home. Inside, they reported finding a suitcase in the bedroom containing more items used to make meth, and around the rear of the home they reported finding a bottle containing residue that tested as 96.6 grams of methamphetamine, 32 times what is considered bulk, Hannan said.

Wesley Brown was indicted on a second-degree felony charge of illegal manufacture of drugs and second-degree felony count of aggravated possession of drugs, as well as a third-degree felony count of illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs. Corey Brown was indicted on a third-degree felony charge of illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs.

The second degree counts carry penalties of two to eight years in prison and a $15,000 fine and the third-degree carries one to five years and a $10,000 fine.

All told, 17 cases were presented to the grand jury and all resulted in indictments. Others among the nine indictments that were made public include:

►Pamela D. Woods, 30, of 383 Shady Glen Road, on two counts of first-degree felony aggravated burglary. Woods is accused of forcing her way into the home of an 82-year-old woman the night of Sept. 24 on Black Run Road when the elderly woman opened the door.

Authorities say she brandished a knife; pushed the woman down; and took money, blood pressure pills and the victim's car, which was later found abandoned. Each count carries between thee and 11 years in prison and a $20,000 fine if convicted.

►Julio A. Gutierrez, 32, of 161 W. Fifth St., on a fifth-degree felony charge of possession of heroin. On July 25 while serving a warrant, detectives reported they discovered a small bag in the defendant's pants containing a powdery substance that tested as 0.13 grams of heroin. The charge carries a possible penalty of six to 12 months and a $2,500 fine.

►Wallace L. Coleman, 32, of 163 1/2 Mulberry St., who was arrested Aug. 7 on a fifth-degree felony charge of possession of cocaine when the Chillicothe Police Department served a warrant and reported finding $315 cash in one pants pocket and a plastic sandwich bag in another containing material that tested as 0.11 grams of cocaine. The charge carries a possible penalty of six to 12 months and a $2,500 fine.

►Jeremiah S. Lewis, 22, of 570 N. High St., Apt. 2, on a fourth-degree felony charge of possession of cocaine. Lewis was arrested during service of a warrant after authorities reported finding a clear plastic bag containing a rock-like substance stuffed into his crotch. The substance tested as 8 grams of cocaine, according to Hannan. The charge carries a possible penalty of six to 18 months and a $5,000 fine.

►Marvan D. Woodfork, 21, of 595 1/2 Church St., and his mother, Norma J. Lytle, 43, of Canal Winchester, both on a third-degree felony count of illegal conveyance of prohibited items onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility.

According to Hannan, a Chillicothe Correctional Institution investigative team had been monitoring calls from an inmate who called for Lytle to drive her son on U.S. 35 near Pleasant Valley Road where drugs would be dropped over the fence near the dairy farm where Level 1 inmates would be able to convey it into the prison.

The calls reportedly specified an Aug. 27 date, so a traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle, and when questioned, Lytle allegedly produced five wrapped plugs of marijuana and pills. Analysis showed 115.49 grams of marijuana and 12 whole and one half Suboxone strips, officials reported. The charge carries a possible penalty of one to five years and a $10,000 fine.

An indictment is not a determination of guilt or innocence, only that the grand jury feels there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial.