NEWS

Burglary suspect back in custody

Carl Burnett Jr.
Reporter

LANCASTER – A Groveport man who is accused of being involved in a burglary on the day his companion was killed in a hit and run crash in 2013 will be back in court.

On Friday, the Fairfield County Prosecutor’s office released a bill of information charging Tyler A. Paul, 23, with one count of possession of heroin and one count of breaking and entering, both fifth-degree felonies.

The possession charge stems from a Jan. 12, 2014 incident where it was alleged he had heroin. The breaking and entering charge dates back to Nov. 13, 2013, when he is accused of breaking into a building.

Paul and a companion, Joshua A. Barnes, 24, of Lancaster, were walking on Lithopolis Road around 5:40 a.m. Nov. 13, 2013 when Barnes was hit by a Jeep Cherokee just east of Lithopolis.

Ohio Highway Patrol troopers and Fairfield County deputies responded to the crash.

The patrol investigated the crash and has charged Thomas Miller, 51, of Lancaster, with the death of Barnes. Miller is scheduled to go to trial this month.

Deputies meanwhile took on part of the investigation when items were found at the scene that did not belong to Paul or Barnes. The thefts and the crash are believed to be unrelated.

Officials were able to trace the items to a nearby vehicle and outbuilding and alleged Paul and Barnes were working together.

Paul’s defense attorney last year had filed a motion for intervention in lieu of conviction and a hearing for the motion was set, however, Paul did not show up after deputies were unable to find him to serve a summons and after his attorney was informed of the date and was unable to get him to the hearing.

“Paul was served recently and is in the Fairfield County Jail,” said assistant Fairfield County Prosecutor Zoe Lamberson.

In Paul’s motion to have intervention in lieu of conviction, his defense attorney, J. Tullis Rogers, said Paul was an excellent candidate for treatment and that it was his addiction that led to the alleged crime.

Lamberson said prosecutors were still willing to work with Paul, but they want to know why he missed the hearing date.

“He’ll have a new hearing date set up and will need to explain himself,” Lamberson said. “We’ll wait and see what he has to say.”

The Fairfield County jail on Monday confirmed Paul was in jail and being held without bail.

cburnett@lancastereaglegazette.com

740-681-4346

Twitter: @CarlBurnettJr