A Logan County grand jury this week indicted Michael L. Walters, 54, of DeGraff, on extensive first-degree felony sex offense charges involving a minor, along with returning indictments against 14 other individuals in cases that include high-level drug trafficking and violent offenses.
Walters was charged in two separate cases.
In one case, Walters faces multiple counts of rape, all first-degree felonies, along with multiple counts of gross sexual imposition, third-degree felonies, involving a minor. In a separate indictment, Walters was charged with dozens of counts of pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor, primarily second-degree felonies, with additional fourth-degree felony counts.
Walters was originally arrested Jan. 13 following an investigation by the Logan County Sheriff’s Office that stemmed from a tip received from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Authorities said the tip involved suspected illegal downloading of child sexual abuse material.
Investigators identified Walters and later contacted him for an interview. According to authorities, Walters admitted to downloading child sexual abuse material from the internet and the dark web over a period of nearly a year. Following the interview, detectives executed a search warrant at his residence, where multiple electronic devices and external storage drives were seized.
Investigators reported that an initial review of a portion of the data revealed confirmed child sexual abuse material files estimated to number in the thousands.
The defendant remains lodged in the Logan County Jail, and authorities have said the investigation is ongoing.
Additional indictments returned by the grand jury include:
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Robert J. Price II, 52, of Bellefontaine: possession of cocaine and trafficking in cocaine, both first-degree felonies, and having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony.
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Amanda Y. Chavis, 40, of Bellefontaine: possession of cocaine and trafficking in cocaine, both first-degree felonies, and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.
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William D. Sheets II, 43, of East Liberty: illegal manufacture of drugs, a second-degree felony; illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, a third-degree felony; possession of cocaine, aggravated possession of drugs, and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, all fifth-degree felonies; and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.
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Angela T. Boger, 46, of East Liberty: complicity to illegal manufacture of drugs, a second-degree felony; complicity to illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for drug manufacture, a third-degree felony; and multiple fifth-degree felony drug possession charges.
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Damonshay J. Cotton, 29, of Bellefontaine: domestic violence, a third-degree felony.
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Colton C. E. Jones, 27, of West Liberty: endangering children, a third-degree felony.
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Timothy W. Steinhelfer, 62, of Bellefontaine: aggravated vehicular assault, a third-degree felony; failure to stop after an accident, a fifth-degree felony; and operating a vehicle under the influence, a first-degree misdemeanor.
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Landon D. Johnson, at large, 19: burglary, a third-degree felony; criminal damaging and criminal trespass, both misdemeanors.
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William R. Patterson, 44, of Harrod: grand theft, a fourth-degree felony.
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Foxi A. Carter, 43, of Bellefontaine: vandalism, a fifth-degree felony, and multiple misdemeanor counts of criminal damaging or endangering.
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Kimberlee A. James, 36, of Marysville: identity fraud, a fifth-degree felony.
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Andrea C. Smith, 38, of Columbus: aggravated possession of drugs and possession of cocaine, both fifth-degree felonies, and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.
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Jessica M. Morton, 35, of West Mansfield: theft, a fifth-degree felony.
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Shane G. Hayes, 34, of West Mansfield: receiving stolen property, a fifth-degree felony.
