By Frank Lewis
Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini says on Thursday at approximately 5 p.m., four people were arrested on multiple felony charges on Walker Road in Lucasville.
Donini said deputies responded to the complaint of a breaking and entering in progress at 108 Walker Rd. in Lucasville. That’s when Theodore Willis, 43 of Furnace Creek Road, Minford, was apprehended while attempting to flee from the residence on foot, while 49 year old John W. Ober of Portsmouth, was apprehended inside the residence.
Deputies said they further discovered an active one pot methamphetamine lab as well as materials and chemicals used in the production of methamphetamine inside the residence and requested assistance from detectives with the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force.
As deputies and task force officers were continuing to investigate and examine the scene, they said Phillip Dean Stidham, 29 of Petersburg Road in Jackson, and 43 year old Aaron Wallace Lanier of an unknown location arrived on scene possessing materials used in the production of methamphetamine. Further investigation resulted in the arrests of Stidham and Lanier as well.
Willis and Ober were charged with breaking and entering, a felony of the fifth degree, illegal manufacture of methamphetamine, a felony of the second degree, and illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of methamphetamine, a third degree felony. Deputies said Willis also possessed an outstanding warrant for his arrest that had been issued by the Scioto County Common Pleas Court for violating probation.
Stidham and Lanier were charged with illegal manufacture of methamphetamine and illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of methamphetamine as well.
Lanier was additionally charged with obstructing official business, a misdemeanor of the second degree. There was also an outstanding warrant for his arrest on indictment for felony possession of drugs that had also been issued by the Scioto County Common Pleas Court. Stidham was additionally charged with possession of heroin, a felony of the fifth degree, and possession of a drug abuse instrument, a first degree misdemeanor.
All individuals were placed in the Scioto County Jail and were scheduled to be arraigned in Portsmouth Municipal Court on Friday at 9 a.m.
The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests could be made in the case.
The case will eventually be forwarded to the Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office to be presented to a Scioto County grand jury for the consideration of additional felony charges against Willis, Ober, Stidham, and Lanier.
Donini commended the actions of the deputies and thanked the Jefferson Township Fire Department for their quick response and assistance.
Sheriff Donini said anyone wishing to leave drug information for the Southern Ohio Drug Task Force can contact the Task Force tip line at 740-354-5656 or email [email protected]. All information will be kept confidential and anonymous.
Reach Frank Lewis at 740-353-3101, ext. 1928, or on Twitter @franklewis.
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