A Greenfield man was indicted by the Ross County Grand Jury, Friday, for aggravated vehicular assault. According to the Ross County Prosecutor's Office, the indictment alleges 21-year-old Nathan S. Mess was under the influence when he crashed a vehicle into a ditch on Upper Twin Road at 2:34 a.m. on July 29th.

There were three passengers: an adult and two juveniles, one of which was a 16-year-old female who was taken to Children's hospital with a laceration and numerous fractures.

If convicted of the third-degree felony, Mess could face a 1-5-year prison term and a $10,000 fine.

In another case, three Chillicothe residents face burglary and vandalism charges following indictment, Friday. Officials from the Prosecutor's office say the indictment alleges 30-year-old Joshua Johnson, 27-year-old Marlin Johnson, and 25-year-old Lauren Johnson broke into a home on Westfall Road on October 17th, stole a stove, copper piping, and wiring, and scrapped the items at Rumpke Recycling for $145.

Each of the defendants has been indicted with a third-degree felony of burglary and a fifth-degree felony of vandalism.

Penalty for the F3 is 1-5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, while the F5 penalty includes a prison term of 6-12 months and a $2,500 fine.

Other indictments include: 

  • 31-year-old Edward S. Henderson, of Chillicothe, for fifth-degree vandalism and possession of criminal tools. On May 29th, Chillicothe Police were called to State Electric on East Main Street on a report of a man fleeing after stealing parts from the air-conditioning unit, which caused over $3,500 in damages. The indictment alleges police found Henderson on Douglas Avenue with a coil from the A/C, bolt cutters, channel locks, and a hacksaw. [POSSIBLE PENALTY: 6-12 months in prison and a $2,500 fine for each offense.]
  • 31-year-old Lawrence J. Barnes, of Chillicothe, for fourth-degree possession of heroin and fifth-degree possession of cocaine. Barnes is accused of crashing a mini bike in Yoctangee Park and fleeing from police on October 25th. According to the Prosecutor’s office, Barnes was seen hiding an object near the city pool during the chase. The contents tested as 2.1 grams of heroin and 3.7 grams of cocaine.  [POSSIBLE PENALTY: 6-18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine for the F4, and 5-12 months and a $2,500 fine for the F5.]
  • 46-year-old David E. Schlusser, of Chillicothe, for fourth-degree domestic violence. The indictment stems from an October 31st incident in which Schlusser is accused of shoving and hitting his 70-year-old mother in the chest with his fists after she told him he needed to move out of her home. Schlusser has a prior domestic violence conviction from 2011. [POSSIBLE PENALTY:  6-18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.]
  • 50-year-old Ronald A. Whitaker, of Chillicothe, for two third-degree felony counts of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to the Prosecutor’s office, Whitaker has prior convictions from 1997 and 2002. The indictment Whitaker faces now charges that he had a blood alcohol content of .216 on September 1st, when he was stopped on State Route 104 for making multiple lane violations. Officials say Whitaker was arrested for OVI after he was found with an odor of marijuana and alcohol. He also did not have a valid license nor insurance.  [POSSIBLE PENALTY: 1-5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for each offense.]