Grand Jury Indicts Ten, 2020 Felony Cases Now Surpass 290

MOUNT VERNON – The Knox County Grand jury indicted ten people on November 16, pushing the number of felony cases for the year to 292.  According to Knox County Prosecuting Attorney Chip McConville, this number is comparable to 2019’s felony caseload.

 

Randy A. Wilhelm, 54, of Mount Vernon, was indicted for domestic violence, a misdemeanor of the first degree, and felonious assault, a felony of the second degree from an alleged assault on his wife in August.  Wilhelm had been charged with the domestic violence offense in Mount Vernon Municipal Court, and while those charges were pending, a review of medical records and other offenses led to his felony indictment.  Wilhelm was indicted for bribery, a felony of the third degree, for allegedly offering money to a witness involved in the domestic violence case.  The grand jury also indicted Wilhelm for menacing by stalking, a felony of the fourth degree, and intimidation of an attorney in a criminal case, a felony of the third degree.  The case was investigated by Senior Special Agent Eric Lehnhart of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, a division of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

 

Robert L. Swint, 38, of Mount Vernon, was indicted for attempted aggravated arson and two counts of felonious assault, all felonies of the second degree and two counts of attempted murder, felonies of the first degree.  Swint allegedly attempted to burn down a tent shelter off of Tilden Avenue where two people were sleeping on the night of November 13.  When confronted by one of the occupants of the tent, Swint allegedly struck the man with a machete, requiring hospital treatment.  The case was investigated by Sgt. Dan Selby of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.

 

Logan T. Weaver, 25, of Danville, was indicted on one count of rape and one count of aggravated burglary, both first degree felonies, for an incident in Fredericktown in July.  He was previously indicted on the burglary charge, and this is a superseding indictment based upon the continued investigation of the rape charge.  This case was investigated by Fredericktown Police Ptl. Josh Jones.

 

Kenneth E. Grubaugh, 52, of Mount Vernon, was indicted for improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a felony of the fourth degree.  Grubaugh allegedly possessed a loaded pistol when he was stopped for a traffic violation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.  The case was investigated by Trooper Joshua Carte.

 

Robert T. Balcom, 29, of Mount Vernon, was indicted for domestic violence and having weapons while under disability, both third-degree felonies.  Balcom allegedly assaulted his wife and possessed a firearm on November 8 in Mount Vernon.  Because of his prior felony domestic violence conviction, Balcom cannot legally possess a gun.  At the time of his arrest Balcom was a parole violator at large according to the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.  This case was investigated by MVPD Ptl. Jason Payne.

 

Ronald E. Hoeflich, Jr., 40, of Mount Vernon, was indicted for failure to comply with the order of a police officer, and conveyance of drugs into a detention facility, both third-degree felonies.   Hoeflich fled from an MVPD officer who was attempting to arrest him on a warrant.  He allegedly led officers on a high-speed chase eastbound on Coshocton Road at speeds over 100 mph, ending when his vehicle was disabled by spike strips deployed in the roadway by a Knox County Sheriff’s deputy.  Upon being booked into the jail, he was allegedly discovered attempting to bring Suboxone into the dorm areas of the facility.  This case was investigated by MVPD Ptl. Tyler Berger and KCSO Det. Aaron Phillips.

 

Christopher M. Deraleau, 31, of Columbus, was indicted for failure to comply with the signal of a police officer and operating a motor vehicle without a valid license.  Mount Vernon Police attempted to stop Deraleau for operating his vehicle with a covered license plate, when he allegedly left the scene and led officers on a chase through city streets on the north end.  He eventually fled his vehicle on foot and was discovered hiding in some bushes with head injuries apparently received during the chase. This case was investigated by MVPD Ptl. Matthew McDonald.

 

Matthew S. Adams, 26, of Mount Vernon, was indicted for failure to register a change of address with the Sheriff as a convicted sex offender.  It is alleged that he was not living at his registered address. This case was investigated by KCSO Dep. Masen Gilbert.

 

Derrik A. Moss, 29, of Mount Vernon, was indicted on one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree.  Mount Vernon police found him in possession of alleged methamphetamine during a traffic stop in October. This case was investigated by MVPD Ptl. Matthew McDonald, Ptl. Aaron Collins and K9 Laya.

 

Stephen A. Frost, Jr., 32, of Portsmouth, was indicted on one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree.  Mount Vernon police found him in possession of alleged methamphetamine during a traffic stop in October. This case was investigated by MVPD Ptl. Aaron Collins, K9 Laya, and Det. Jessica Butler.

 

Information courtesy of the Knox County Prosecutor’s Office