An out-of-state defendant with an extensive criminal history was among the defendants indicted this week by a Logan County Grand Jury.
Larry Williams, 54, of Indiana, has been indicted on a number of drug-related charges including aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony; possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor; and possession of drug abuse instruments, a second-degree misdemeanor.
Williams was arrested and charged locally on Sept. 3 after the BPD criminal patrol unit received information that a male was in the area with an extraditable felony arrest warrant out of Indiana. The vehicle was described as a brown Nissan Altima and an Indiana license plate also was provided to officers.
The police K9 unit united located the vehicle occupied and sitting in the parking lot of McDonald’s on north Main Street. Upon making contact, the defendant reportedly lied to officers about his identity. Officers eventually identified him as a the defendant, Williams, and confirmed his warrant.
After being told a narcotics K9 officer was on scene, Williams admitted to police that there was methamphetamine in the vehicle.
Officers located a bulk amount of methamphetamine, a methamphetamine pipe, five loaded syringes, multiple plastic baggies and multiple IDs that did not belong to Williams.
- Tia Hassell, 31, of North Lewisburg, was indicted for tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; and possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony.
She was arrested on the charges July 4 after she reportedly passed out and had to be revived with Narcan inside Kroger, 2129 S. Main St.
Officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department along with Bellefontaine Fire and EMS were dispatched to the store on a report that Hassell had collapsed. Upon their arrival, officers learned she regained consciousness after being administered Narcan.
While talking with Hassell, officers asked for consent to search her purse, which was granted. A small baggie containing suspected crack cocaine was located in an outside pocket and Hassell initially denied any knowledge of what it was.
Officers attempted to detain her and she tensed up for a moment and would not cooperate. She also reportedly tried to conceal the evidence of her drug use by blowing the baggie off the shopping cart.
Hassell is currently on probation for previous drug violations and has undergone treatment, she told officers. She was transported first to Mary Rutan Hospital to be checked out and then was lodged in the Logan County Jail.
- Joseph Smalley, 53, at-large, was indicted for possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony; and illegal conveyance of drugs, a third-degree felony. Logan County deputies initiated a May 25 traffic stop of Smalley for a cracked windshield and expired tags. During the stop, Smalley handed over a small amount of marijuana.
A search of his vehicle uncovered cocaine, which he admitted to possessing. After his arrest, personnel at the Logan County Jail reportedly found more cocaine on him, leading to charges of possession, tampering with evidence, and illegal conveyance.
- Nathaniel Clem, 45, of Lakeview: receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony. Clem was charged Sunday, Sept. 15, with receiving stolen property following an investigation by deputies of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office into reports of a stolen camper.
Deputies on patrol executed a routine traffic stop around 3:15 p.m. in the area of Oakwood and Ash avenues just outside of Lakeview on the north side of Indian Lake. While on scene, a witness reported that a camper trailer near that location had been stolen, and Clem was identified as a suspect.
Deputies matched the VIN and the registration for the camper and identified its owner, Brian Weiss, of Springfield, who reported that he’d last seen the camper in March.
Contact was made with Clem who claimed to have purchased the camper on Facebook Marketplace. There was a bill of sale, the defendant said, but it did not identify the seller or include a phone number.
After consulting with the Logan County Prosecutor’s Office, Clem was arrested and lodged in the Logan County Jail. The camper was returned to its registered owner.
- Hayden Fisher, 29, of Lakeview: was indicted on a second-degree felony count of burglary. Russells Point Police responded Sept. 8 to a burglary report involving Fisher, who had reportedly broken into his ex-girlfriend’s home through a window. When officers arrived, Fisher had already fled but was later found at his residence. After initially refusing to cooperate, he surrendered peacefully and was arrested. Fisher was charged with burglary and taken to the Logan County Jail.
Others indicted were:
- Ashton Darks, 40, of Columbus: Identity fraud and possession of marijuana, both fifth-degree felonies;
- Devin Slaughter, 33, of Columbus: theft, a fifth-degree felony;
- Robert Tucker, 59, of Lima: felonious assault, a second-degree felony;
- Harley Nott, 46, of Urbana: aggravated possession of drugs, a second-degree felony; and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor;
- Brandy Simons, 32, of Springfield: possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony; illegal conveyance of drugs, a third-degree felony; and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony;
- Geoffrey Campbell, 60, of Springfield: possession of cocaine, a fourth-degree felony; and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony;
- Ethan Shoffner, 23, of Bellefontaine: having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony; failure to stop after an accident, and using weapons while intoxicated, both first-degree misdemeanors;
- Joshua Hughes, 42, of Lima: complicity to theft, a fifth-degree felony; and grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony;
- Mark Robinson, 61, of Medway: possession of cocaine, and aggravated possession of drugs, both fifth-degree felonies; and
- Sara Groves, 37, of Lima: aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony; and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.
