<![CDATA[Logan County, Ohio - Common Pleas Court Press Releases]]>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 16:12:02 -0400EditMySite<![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.  ​]]><![CDATA[Whiting Sentenced on Three Drug-Related Felony Convictions]]>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.logancountyohio.gov/common-pleas-court-press-releases/whiting-sentenced-on-three-drug-related-felony-convictions​Judge Kevin P. Braig of the Logan County Court of Common Pleas today sentenced Chase Whiting to 13 to 16.5 years in prison today on three drug-related felony convictions.
 
Pursuant to a plea agreement, Whiting pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, a felony of the first degree, illegal manufacture of drugs, a felony of the second degree, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the first degree.
 
Under state law, the court was required to impose mandatory prison terms for all three offenses. Further, the law required a mandatory minimum prison term of 11 years on the engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity conviction.
 
Logan County Assistant Prosecutor Nathan Yohey and Columbus-based defense counsel Luke Milligan jointly recommended the sentence and Judge Braig adopted the recommendation.
 
In addition, Judge Braig sentenced Megan M. Gross to 172 days in the Logan County jail on a probation violation on an aggravated possession of drugs conviction, a felony of the fifth degree. Gross violated her probation by failing to successfully complete programming in the Logan County Adult Recovery Court.]]><![CDATA[Logan Count ARC Graduates Seven]]>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.logancountyohio.gov/common-pleas-court-press-releases/logan-count-arc-graduates-seven
From left: Brandon Miller, Nate Clem, Adam Emrick, Judge Kevin P. Braig, Davante Smith, Patricia Haas, Brenda Shields, Jackie Bray
From left: Brandon Miller, Nate Clem, Adam Emrick, Judge Kevin P. Braig, Davante Smith, Patricia Haas, Brenda Shields, Jackie Bray
​Judge Kevin P. Braig and Logan County Court of Common Pleas Adult Recovery Court (ARC) Team are pleased to announce the graduation of Brenda Shields, Brandon Miller, Davante Smith, Adam Emrick, Patricia Haas, Nate Clem, and  Jackie Bray.
 
Family and friends joined with the graduates and the ARC Team on February 23 for a celebration at the Bellefontaine Presbyterian Church. The graduates reflected on their experiences in the ARC and their hopes for the future. Judge Braig also offered a few words about each graduate.
"Brenda Shields is one of the sweetest people who has ever come through the ARC," Judge Braig said.
 
"Brandon Miller put the 'adult' in 'Adult Recovery Court,'" Judge Braig said. "You can graduate simply by doing the recovery work. But we hope to see people grow into adults too. Brandon did so and I expect he will continue to grow."
 
"Davante Smith has come a long way. He has grown into a polite and respectful young man. I cold not be more proud of him," Judge Braig said.
 
"Adam Emrick is a pioneer," Judge Braig said. "He is our first graduate to complete the HVAC technician program at Emerge Recover in Xenia, Ohio. He is now a certified HVAC technician. I know it took courage for Adam to leave Logan County and blaze this trail for others. In doing so, he has made a lasting contribution to the program.
 
"Patricia Haas had to grow up fast. That can be difficult on a person. But she still has a light and good heart," Judge Braig said.
 
"Nate Clem went to Christopher House, got sober, and reunited with his family," Judge Braig said.
 
"Jackie Bray is a stronger graduate now than she was the first time she graduated. Sometimes the sequel is better than the original," Judge Braid said.
 
The ARC treatment team works within the framework of the traditional Logan County Common Pleas Court.  The ARC’s mission is to achieve specific, rehabilitative objectives. The objectives of the ARC are to monitor treatment for substance abuse disorder of ARC participants, encourage and incentivize ARC participants to achieve rehabilitation and personal accountability, and decrease criminal activity and the need for incarceration.
 
The ARC provides its participants with the support of Judge Braig, Treatment Coordinator and Program Manager Annette Deao, Compliance Officers Jim Pleasant, Mandy Wilber, and Gary Ledford, Logan County Jail liaisons Doug Boggs and Amber Pickford, and treatment providers from TCN Behavioral Health Services, Community Health Wellness, the Justice Reinvestment Grant, Logan County Assistant Prosecutor Erin Rosen, local attorney Natalie Bahan, and others.  The members of the ARC Team share the  goals of: (1) empowering ARC participants through treatment, accountability, and responsibility, (2) assisting ARC participants in achieving recovery from substance abuse disorder, and (3) helping ARC participants lead useful and productive lives.
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