HILLSBORO, Ohio — A Highland County grand jury issued indictments against nine individuals on Tuesday, with several charges involving residents of Bainbridge and Greenfield, including allegations of sexual misconduct, drug possession, and arson.
Among those indicted, Donald L. Holt, 39, of Bainbridge, faces one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and one count of aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony. The charges stem from an alleged incident in December 2024, according to the indictment.
Greenfield residents were also prominently featured in the session. Curtis W. Walden, 41, was charged with three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, all third-degree felonies. The indictment alleges that Walden engaged in sexual conduct with a victim under 16 while being at least 10 years older than the victim.
In a separate case, Michael W. Certain, 44, of Greenfield, was indicted on one count of having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony, along with a forfeiture specification. The charge relates to an incident on or about Feb. 4, 2025, where Certain allegedly possessed a firearm—a shotgun subject to forfeiture—despite a prior conviction for failure to comply with a police officer’s order, which legally prohibits him from owning weapons.
Also from Greenfield, Betty L. Groves, 58, faces one count of arson, a fourth-degree felony, and one count of criminal damaging, a second-degree misdemeanor. The indictment alleges that Groves knowingly caused or created a substantial risk of physical harm to property valued at $1,000 or more by means of fire or explosion in March 2025. A second count accuses her of creating a similar risk to a house using fire or other dangerous means on the same date.
Another Greenfield resident, Scott T. McMurry, 46, was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.
The grand jury also indicted Matthew O. Jones, 37, of Hillsboro, on three counts of rape, all first-degree felonies, and one count of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony. The rape charges allege that Jones engaged in sexual conduct with a victim under 10 over a one-year period, while the gross sexual imposition charge involves alleged sexual contact with a victim under 13.
Other indictments include Zachary Wilson of Cincinnati, linked to Valor Outfitters, charged with theft by deception, a fifth-degree felony, for allegedly obtaining between $1,000 and $7,500 in U.S. currency in July 2024. Charles H. King II, 54, of Washington Court House, and Skyler D. South, 31, of Hillsboro, were each charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.
An indictment is a formal charge and does not constitute evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.