Haley

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Weddington

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Ryan Scott Ottney

PDT Staff Writer

Scioto County Prosecutor Mark Kuhn announced Wednesday that the Scioto County grand jury returned 33 indictments during their meeting on Dec. 7. Among them was a Dayton man arrested on drug charges and a Portsmouth woman who crashed her vehicle through a building while leading police in a chase.

According to the prosecutor’s office, Marcus Haley, age 50, of Dayton, was indicted for trafficking in drugs/heroin, possession of drugs/heroin, conspiring to traffic heroin, and tampering with evidence.

According to Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini and Portsmouth Police Chief Robert Ware, Southern Ohio Drug Task Force detectives were requested to assist the Portsmouth Municipal Court Probation Department at 3178 Walnut St., in Portsmouth in making an arrest for violating probation. On the scene, an investigation was initiated and a search of the residence was conducted. Detectives discovered approximately 70 grams of suspected heroin in a false compartment inside of a Slim Jim container, more than $3,500 cash, a small amount of marijuana, digital scales and assorted drug paraphernalia. Haley was arrested and placed in the Scioto County Jail and was held on a $20,000 bond.

Also indicted by the grand jury this month was Melinda Weddington, age 41, of Portsmouth.

According to police reports, Weddington’s vehicle was being chased by Portsmouth police on Oct. 24 when it slammed into the right front-side of an Access Scioto County bus, then crashed through the front of the Fish Bowl bar on Eighth Street in Portsmouth. The driver of the ASC bus was transported to a Huntington, W.Va., hospital.

At the scene, Police Lieutenant Jerry Leach explained the chain of events.

“It was a shoplifting that turned into a robbery at the Family Dollar Store on 11th Street involving the lady that was driving the station wagon,” Leach said.

According to the arrest report, Weddington entered the store and took items she attempted to conceal. When she was stopped by a store employee, she reportedly tried to leave without paying for the items and bit the employee on the arm, causing injury.

Detectives reportedly located the vehicle driving in the east end of Portsmouth and gave chase, until Weddington crashed into the bus.

Weddington was indicted by the grand jury on charges of aggravated robbery, robbery, felonious assault, failure to comply with order or signal of police officer, two counts of aggravated vehicular assault, and possessing drug abuse instruments.

Also indicted by the grand jury this month was Stacey Dupree, age 44, of Dayton. Dupree was arrested after her vehicle was stopped on Nov. 1, revealing 77 grams of heroin on her person. Dupree was indicted this month on charges of trafficking in heroin, possession of heroin and tampering with evidence.

Among other indictments filed this month by the grand jury is Randall Tuffs, homeless, for theft, receiving stolen property, possession of criminal tools, obstructing official business, and two counts of burglary; Charles Sprague of West Portsmouth, for domestic violence; Deonte Wiley of Detroit, for conspiring to traffic in drugs; Tyrece Gooden of Columbus, for trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, tampering with evidence, and conspiracy to traffic in drugs; Erica Vickers and Ebony Fant, both of Detroit, and both for trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, tampering with evidence, and conspiracy to traffic in drugs; Dustin Carver of Portsmouth for illegal manufacture of drugs, illegal possession of drugs, and endangering children; Melissa Chapman of New Boston, for two counts of grand theft, two counts of aggravated theft, two counts of theft, and one count of forgery; James Richard Kemp of McDermott, for theft, misuse of credit card, identity fraud, and telecommunications fraud; Jon-Isac Blevins of Franklin Furnace, for intimidation; Alvin Branham of Portsmouth, for breaking and entering; Michael Spradlin of Portsmouth, for possession of heroin and possessing drug abuse instruments; William Hodge of McDermott, for possession of drugs; Anthony Adkins (address not provided) for trafficking in drugs and aggravated possession of drugs; and Vincent Feuerstein of Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, for harassment with bodily substance.

Also filed by the grand jury were nine individual cases of failure to appear, and they were Fred Delano Williams of Portsmouth, Rachel Barber of Albany, Ohio, Jay Stone of Wheelersburg, Shane McGlone of Portsmouth, Jeffrey Chapple, Jr., of Hilliard, Ohio, Michael Bashaw of New Boston, Darrick Scalf of Portsmouth, Carol Boehm of Portsmouth, and Jessica Brown of New Boston.

Ryan Scott Ottney can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 287, or rottney@portsmouth-dailytimes.com.