<![CDATA[Logan County, Ohio - Common Pleas Court Press Releases]]>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 10:18:23 -0400EditMySite<![CDATA[Logan County Jury Finds Gene Grant Guilty of Rape, Kidnapping]]>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.logancountyohio.gov/common-pleas-court-press-releases/logan-county-jury-finds-gene-grant-guilty-of-rape-kidnappingA Logan County jury today found Gene W. Grant guilty of two counts of rape and one count of kidnapping, felonies of the first degree, and one count of gross sexual imposition, a felony of the fourth degree. The jury deliberated for about three hours.
 
The jury also found Grant not guilty on another rape charge relating to his ex-wife and not guilty of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor. The pandering charges related to videos law enforcement recovered from a family computer tablet.
 
On the rape convictions, the jury found the victim was under 10 years of age and Grant purposely compelled her to submit through force or the threat of force. On the kidnapping charge, the jury found the victim was under 18 years of age and Grant committed the offense with a sexual motivation.
 
In addition, the State of Ohio charged Grant with a sexually violent predator specification on the rape and kidnapping charges. Grant, through his counsel John Cunningham of Dayton, elected to have Logan County Court of Common Pleas Kevin P. Braig determine the applicability of the sexually violent predator specifications rather than the jury. Judge Braig then discharged the jury.
 
Judge Braig announced that he will hold a hearing at a later date to determine the applicability of the sexually violent predator specifications. Judge Braig also revoked Grant's bond and ordered that he await sentencing in the Logan County Jail. Judge Braig announced that the Court will undertake a pre-sentence investigation and schedule a sentencing hearing.
 
The rape convictions require the Court to impose a sentence of at least twenty-five years to life in prison.
 
Logan County Assistant Prosecutors Nathan Yohey and Erin Rosen represented the State of Ohio.]]><![CDATA[Anderson get lengthy prison term]]>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 19:46:44 GMThttps://www.logancountyohio.gov/common-pleas-court-press-releases/anderson-get-lengthy-prison-termJudge Kevin P. Braig of the Logan County Court of Common Pleas today sentenced Joshua SH Anderson to 9-to-12 years in prison on five felony drug convictions, including complicity to manufacture of drugs in the presence of a juvenile, a felony of the first degree.
 
A Logan County Jury convicted Anderson on the charges on June 30, 2026. Anderson's girlfriend testified during the trial that Anderson aided and abetted her cooking cocaine in powder form into crack cocaine. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 11, 2026, after pleading guilty to illegal manufacture of drugs, a felony of the second degree, and endangering children, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
 
At the sentencing hearing, Anderson maintained that his girlfriend "manipulated" him, and that the State of Ohio did not present evidence sufficient to convict him.]]><![CDATA[Man who ran from police sentenced]]>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 22:58:59 GMThttps://www.logancountyohio.gov/common-pleas-court-press-releases/man-who-ran-from-police-sentencedJudge Kevin P. Braig of the Logan County Court of Common Pleas today sentenced Dustin T. Wells to seven years in prison and suspended his driver's license for life for multiple felony offenses.
 
On May 28, 2026, a Logan County jury rejected Wells' argument that he was not the man on a motorcycle who led Bellefontaine police on a high-speed chase shortly after midnight on October 11, 2025. The jury found Wells guilty of failure to comply with the order or signal of police officer, a felony of the third degree.
 
At the time of the trial, Wells already was on probation for a prior failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer conviction and possession of a fentanyl-related compound (a felony of the fifth degree) and OVI (a misdemeanor of the first degree) convictions.
 
Ohio law requires that Well's driver's license be suspended for his lifetime and that prison terms for failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer be served consecutively.]]><![CDATA[Jury find Anderson aided cooking cocaine]]>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 20:32:43 GMThttps://www.logancountyohio.gov/common-pleas-court-press-releases/jury-find-anderson-aided-cooking-cocaineA Logan County jury today returned guilty verdicts against Joshua S.H. Anderson on five felony charges, including complicity to illegal manufacture of drugs in the presence of a juvenile, a felony of the first degree. The jury reached its verdict after a little less than two hours of deliberation.
 
Jessica Vombaur, Anderson's girlfriend, took the stand and testified Anderson aided and abetted her cooking powder cocaine into crack cocaine and selling it on March 25, 2026, while their 13-year-old son was present in their residence. Prior to the trial, Vombaur agreed to testify against Anderson in exchange for a recommended 2-to-3-year prison sentence on her plea to illegal manufacture of drugs, a felony of the second degree. Vombaur has not yet been sentenced on that conviction.
 
Anderson maintained throughout the proceedings that he was not present in the residence on March 25 and did not aid or abet Vombaur in any manner. His attorney, Ralph Bauer of Sidney, Ohio, argued she was merely trying to reduce her sentence by testifying against Anderson.
 
In addition to the guilty verdict on the complicity to illegal manufacture of drugs, the jury also found Anderson guilty of two counts of trafficking in cocaine (felonies of the fourth and fifth degrees), endangering children (felony of the third degree), and possession of cocaine (felony of the fifth degree).
 
Judge Kevin P. Braig ordered a pre-sentence investigation and scheduled a sentencing hearing for August 4, 2026, at 10 AM. The convictions require a mandatory prison sentence at least equivalent to that to be recommended for Vombaur.
 
The State of Ohio was represented by Logan County Assistant Prosecutor Nicholas Williams.]]><![CDATA[Logan County jury finds Wells fled police on motorcyle]]>Thu, 28 May 2026 20:48:47 GMThttps://www.logancountyohio.gov/common-pleas-court-press-releases/logan-county-jury-finds-wells-fled-police-on-motorcyleA Logan County jury today needed less than hour to convict Dustin T. Wells guilty failing to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a felony of the third degree. The jury also found that Wells' flight caused a substantial risk of serious physical harm to people or property.
 
Logan County Assistant Prosecutor Nathan Yohey presented evidence that shortly after midnight on October 11, 2025, Bellefontaine Police Officer Bryce Goodrich heard a motorcycle and saw Wells leave the Wrock Bottom Brewery and go the wrong way down a one-way alley in Bellefontaine, Ohio, on a burnt orange motorcycle.
 
Wells denied that he was the person on the motorcycle.
 
Officer Goodrich testified he and other law enforcement officers activated their overhead lights and pursued Wells, who traveled at high speed to escape.  Assistant Prosecutor Yohey also introduced the testimony of a security guard at the bar that placed Wells and the motorcycle at the bar and analysis of cellular records by Logan County Detective Adam Wood to convince the jury that it was Wells who was on the motorcycle.
 
At the time of the offense, Wells was already on probation for a prior failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer conviction and a drug-related conviction. Well's probation officer, Eric Mattox, testified that a green hoodie sweatshirt that the motorcycle rider wore looked like the same green hoodie sweatshirt that Wells wore to a meeting with him a few days before the offense.
 
Wells was represented by defense counsel Luke Meenach of Bellefontaine, Ohio.]]><![CDATA[Alec W. Berry sentenced on sex offenses]]>Fri, 15 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.logancountyohio.gov/common-pleas-court-press-releases/alec-w-berry-sentenced-on-sex-offensesJudge Kevin P. Braig of the Logan County Court of Common Pleas today sentenced Alec W. Berry to mandatory prison terms totaling 19-to-24.5 years on his convictions on charges of rape, a felony of the first degree, and sexual battery, a felony of the second degree. The sentence is the maximum sentence permitted for the offenses under Ohio law.
 
Prison terms on both offenses are mandatory. Judge Braig ordered they be served consecutively because he found consecutive sentences necessary to protect the public from future crime by Berry and to punish Berry and that consecutive sentences are not disproportionate to the seriousness of Berry's conduct and to the danger Berry poses to the public. Upon release from prison, Berry is required to register as a Tier III sex offender and be subject to five years of post-release control supervision.
 
The victim and her mother addressed the court during the hearing and requested the court to impose a maximum prison sentence.
 
Berry chose to waive his right to personally address the court during the hearing. Defense Attorney Colin McNamee stated Berry maintains that he is innocent and plans to appeal his conviction and sentence to the Third District Court of Appeals.
 
The State of Ohio was represented by Logan County Assistant Prosecutor Erin Rosen. 

​]]><![CDATA[Logan County Jury Acquits Bartender on Rape Charges]]>Fri, 01 May 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.logancountyohio.gov/common-pleas-court-press-releases/logan-county-jury-acquits-bartender-on-rape-chargesA Logan County Jury today acquitted Charles A. Margouirk on six felony charges, including four counts of rape. The State of Ohio dismissed another charge of rape after the jury could not reach a decision on the charge.
 
The charges arose from events in a trailer in which Magouirk lived during the summer of 2025 while he was working as a bartender at Froggy's Bar at Indian Lake. Magouirk met his accuser while he was working a shift at the bar on June 7, 2025.
 
The trial last two and a half days. The jury deliberated for approximately five hours before reaching its verdict.
 
Logan County Assistant Prosecutor Nathan Yohey represented the State of Ohio.  Criminal defense attorney Chris Bucio represented Magouirk.
]]><![CDATA[Berry guilty on rape, sexual battery]]>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.logancountyohio.gov/common-pleas-court-press-releases/berry-guilty-on-rape-sexual-batteryJudge Kevin P. Braig of the Logan County Court of Common Pleas today found Alec W. Berry guilty on one count of rape, a felony of the first degree, and one count of sexual battery, a felony of the second degree.
 
Berry waived his constitutional right to a trial by jury. Judge Braig heard evidence during a two-day bench trial on April 8 and April 9. When a defendant waives the right to a trial by jury, the judge acts as the finder of fact and must find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to convict.
 
Judge Braig revoked Berry's bail and ordered he await sentencing in the Logan County Jail, ordered a presentence investigation, and scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 15, 2026, at 2 PM.
 
The State of Ohio was represented by Logan County Assistant Prosecutor Erin Rosen. Berry was represented by defense counsel Colin McNamee.
]]><![CDATA[Byrd, Hoskins ARC's Top Chefs]]>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.logancountyohio.gov/common-pleas-court-press-releases/byrd-hoskins-arcs-top-chefs
Logan County ARC Top Chefs Shannon Byrd (LEFT) and Ty Hoskins (RIGHT)
Logan County ARC Top Chefs Shannon Byrd (LEFT) and Ty Hoskins (RIGHT)
Shannon Byrd and Ty Hoskins captured the Logan County Adult Recovery Court's first "Chopped" cooking competition on March 30 at the Bellefontaine Presbyterian Church kitchen.
 
The competition mirrored the format of the popular Food Network television program Chopped. Four teams of two chefs combined rotisserie chicken, carrots, capers, and crescent rolls with ingredients of their choice into dishes that were evaluated by a panel of three judges. ARC treatment team members Annette Deao, Mandy Wilber, and Jim Pleasant prepared the kitchen for the competitors.
 
Byrd and Hoskins cooked up tacos, beans and dirty rice, and baked crescent rolls to take top-chef honors.
 
Logan County Court of Common Pleas General Division Judge Kevin P. Braig and ARC compliance officer Gary Ledford came in second with their spicy chicken cacciatore and garlic crescent rolls.
 
Christine Huffman and Ashley Carter cooked up a hearty chicken stew with crescent rolls stuffed with capers and David Lewis and Brandy Simons boiled a hearty soup with chicken-stuffed crescent rolls.
 
"Eating right, getting enough sleep, and exercising are great ways to develop healthy habits that promote recovery from substance abuse disorder," Judge Braig said. "Cooking can also be a fun and satisfying hobby. All the dishes prepared by our ARC chefs were amazing and everyone enjoyed the food and the fun."
 
Amber Pickford of the Logan County Jail, Gary Haber of the Logan County Historical Center, Angela Pride of the Recovery Zone served as the judges.
]]><![CDATA[Drug, Sex Offenses Result in Prison Terms]]>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:08:23 GMThttps://www.logancountyohio.gov/common-pleas-court-press-releases/drug-sex-offenses-result-in-prison-termsJudge Kevin P. Braig of the Logan County Court of Common Pleas today sentenced two defendants to prison terms on felony convictions involving drugs and sex offenses, respectively.
 
Judge Braig sentenced De'Andre L. Tucker to 6-to-9 years in prison on his conviction on the charge of illegal manufacture of drugs, a felony of the second degree. Judge Braig found that the offense was committed as part of organized crime.
 
Ethan Gilmore received a 4-to-6 years sentence on his convictions for illegal use of a minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, a felony of the second degree, and two counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person, felonies of the fourth degree.  ​]]>