Grand jury returns 15 open, 25 secret indictments

By the Salem News

LISBON - The Columbiana County grand jury issued numerous indictments Thursday, including charges related to an East Liverpool gas station robbery, a domestic situation with a kidnapping and the escape of a jail inmate who fled the state with a girlfriend.

Kurtis Ventry, 22, of 340 E. Eighth St., East Liverpool, and Robert McCauley II, 20, of 330 E. Eighth St., East Liverpool, were each charged with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, for the alleged robbery of the Uni-Mart BP station at 736 Dresden Ave., East Liverpool, on May 25.

Court documents said the alleged robbers had a knife and a store employee followed them to a house after they left the store, with both men arrested later.

The grand jury met for three days before issuing 15 open indictments and 25 secret indictments after examining 74 witnesses in 41 cases, with one case continued.

Lonny Adkins, 35, of 502 Wilbert Ave., East Liverpool, was indicted for kidnapping, a first-degree felony, and domestic violence, a third-degree felony. Documents alleged Adkins was threatening and choking a woman he knows in a residence in East Liverpool on May 26 when he allegedly pointed a gun at her and made her go outside with him. She fled on foot. He had two previous domestic violence charges against him in 1999 and 2000.

Indictments were also issued against alleged jail escapee Larry Jan Williams, 35, whose last known address was Elk Avenue, Lisbon, and against his girlfriend, Candy Kibler, 38, whose last known address was 444 Thomas Road, Lisbon, related to an incident which began May 28 and ended when the pair wrecked a stolen vehicle into a nursing home in West Virginia.

Williams was charged with escape, a first-degree misdemeanor, and theft, a fourth-degree felony, for allegedly breaking out of the Columbiana County jail and then stealing a 1986 Ford Thunderbird belonging to Richard Brown on Depot Road, Lisbon.

Kibler was charged with obstructing justice, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly helping to harbor Williams and trying to keep him from getting caught.

Other open indictments issued included:

John Beadnell, 25, whose last known address was Mechanicstown, assault, a fourth-degree felony. Documents alleged Beadnell attempted to harm now fired Salineville Police Patrolman Michael Garber on May 16 in Salineville by kicking him in the head while he was being searched by the officer. Garber filed an appeal to challenge his termination by Salineville Village Council.

Kimberly Jenkins, 39, of 2552 Lexington Ave., Salem, and Matthew Crowe, 40, of 2105 Union Ave., Minerva, each charged with breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony. Documents alleged that Jenkins and Crowe trespassed in a house on East Third Street in Salem belonging to John J. and Patty Phillips on May 31.

Eric Mehaffey, 27, of 11840 Smith-Goshen Road, Beloit, breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony, burglary, a third-degree felony, and safe cracking, a fourth-degree felony. Documents alleged Mehaffey trespassed in the residence of Debbie Riggs on Monroeville Heights, Salineville, and tried to enter her safe on March 10. He also trespassed at Hawk Laboratories on Rochester Road in East Rochester on May 22, documents alleged.

Cliff Lake, 25, of 726 Newgarden Ave., Salem, domestic violence, a third-degree felony. Documents alleged Lake attempted to harm a woman he knows on April 20, with two or more domestic violence charges against him in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Samuel Franklin Masters Jr., 32, whose last known address was Oakwood Street, East Liverpool, failure to notify sheriff of change of address, a third-degree felony. Documents alleged Masters failed to notify the sheriff of his new address by May 20 as required since he's a sex offender. He was convicted in Hancock County, West Virginia of a sexually oriented offense.

Frederick Robinson, 34, of 1250 Cheval Drive, East Liverpool, and William Jenkins, 28, of 5 Lycia Ave., East Liverpoo, each charged with breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony. Documents alleged that Robinson and Jenkins trespassed in The Bar at 412 E. Fifth St., East Liverpool, on May 9 to commit theft.

Earl Stanley, 57, of Baden, Pa., two counts of receiving stolen property, one a fifth-degree felony and one a fourth-degree felony. Documents alleged Stanley had in his possession on April 29 a 2005 Dodge Durango belonging to Aurora Chrysler Plymouth Dodge Inc. and a license plate belonging to Lexus of Akron/Canton.

John Williams, 36, of 752 Newgarden Ave., Salem, two counts of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a fourth-degree felony. Documents alleged Williams was driving drunk on April 6, with at least three prior pleas or convictions for DWI against him. One of the counts dealt with the alleged percentage of alcohol in his system.