Adult faces more charges after party mayhem

NEWARK – The only adult currently charged in the robbery and stabbing of several people at a party on Martinsburg Road earlier this month now faces additional charges.

Ramon R. Smith, 24, last known address 35 S. Webb St., Newark, was indicted Thursday by a grand jury on two counts of aggravated robbery, both first-degree felonies; and one count each of felonious assault, a second-degree felony; and aggravated riot, a fourth-degree felony.

The charges stem from a party held on the 10000 block of Martinsburg Road on May 10. Licking County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the home after there were reports of a fight and people being stabbed.

Police found two people who had been injured from stab wounds and several others who had other minor injuries. A vehicle was reported stolen from the property and crashed a short distance away.

Smith and three juveniles, who also are facing charges, were inside the vehicle, along with another adult who currently is not facing any charges, according to court records.

The charges Smith now faces carry a maximum sentence of more than 30 years in prison. He is scheduled to appear for an arraignment Tuesday morning.

Two of the three juveniles charged, 13-year-old Prophet Johnson and 15-year-old Ricc’Quawaun Chatmon, had a pretrial conference Thursday afternoon in Licking County Juvenile Court.

Johnson is charged with one juvenile equivalency count each of complicity to aggravated robbery and aggravated riot. Chatmon is charged with two juvenile equivalency counts of aggravated robbery and one count of aggravated riot.

If found delinquent, both Johnson and Chatmon could be ordered to remain in juvenile detention until their 21st birthdays.

Magistrate Jeffrey Plunkett ordered both teens to have a second pretrial conference June 18.

The third juvenile charged, 16-year-old William Wilson Jr., is scheduled for a pretrial conference Monday. He is charged with one juvenile equivalency count of aggravated robbery.

All three teens remained detained in the Multi-County Juvenile Detention Facility in Lancaster.

Smith is being held in the Licking County Justice Center in lieu of a $100,000 bond.