PORTSMOUTH, Ohio – A Scioto County grand jury returned 13 public indictments last week covering a range of charges from murder to drug possession to a cluster of benefit fraud cases targeting the federal food assistance program, Scioto County Prosecutor Shane A. Tieman announced Monday.
The January term grand jury met on March 6 and handed down the indictments across cases that paint a broad picture of criminal activity in the region.
The most serious case
The most significant indictment targets Thomas McCall, 48, of Ashland, Kentucky, who faces a sweeping set of violent felony charges, including murder, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated robbery, robbery, felonious assault, kidnapping, and aggravated burglary. The indictment does not identify a victim or describe the alleged circumstances, which are expected to emerge as the case moves through the court system.
Five indicted in SNAP fraud scheme
Five Scioto County residents — four from Wheelersburg and one from Portsmouth — were indicted on charges related to the illegal use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly known as food stamps or SNAP.
Samantha Mercer, 36, of Portsmouth, faces charges of telecommunications fraud, falsification in a theft offense, and illegal use of SNAP or WIC program benefits. Marissa Adkins, 28, Michael Reed, 33, Trista Bailey, 25, and Shaderick Duckett, 24 — all of Wheelersburg — each face charges of grand theft, falsification in a theft offense, and illegal use of SNAP or WIC program benefits.
The cluster of indictments from the same community suggests investigators may have identified a coordinated scheme rather than isolated incidents, though the prosecutor’s office did not specify in the release whether the cases are connected.
Drugs, assaults, and other charges
The remaining indictments cover a range of offenses. Amy Thurman, 45, of Portsmouth, was indicted on charges of illegal conveyance of drugs onto the grounds of a specified governmental facility — typically a jail or courthouse — and possession of drugs. William Clevenger, 46, of McDermot,t faces a charge of possession of a fentanyl-related compound.
Daniel Brown, 39, of Otway, faces the widest array of non-violent charges, including inducing panic, two counts of obstructing official business, aggravated possession of drugs, and possession of a fentanyl-related compound.
David Cromer, 19, and Zion Oglesby, 18, both of Portsmouth, were each indicted on charges of breaking and entering, grand theft, and possessing criminal tools — suggesting the two may be co-defendants in the same case.
Shawn Covey, 49, of Lucasville, was indicted on harassment with a bodily substance and assault, and Ethan Spencer, 35, of Portsmouth, faces charges of failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer and obstructing official business.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Cases are expected to be scheduled for arraignment in Scioto County Common Pleas Court.