A Logan County grand jury handed up an indictment Tuesday, Jan. 14, against a West Mansfield woman accused of abuse and neglect of her 4-year-old daughter, who required hospitalization for severe malnutrition.
Abby Small, 34, has been indicted on charges including endangering children, a felony of the third-degree; endangering children, a misdemeanor of the first-degree; and obstructing official business, a misdemeanor of the second-degree.
She was arrested in November following a well-being check by Logan County Sheriff’s deputies that revealed suspected child abuse and/or neglect.
The investigation began when deputies from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with Logan County Children’s Services visited Small’s home to assess the safety of her children. Upon their arrival, deputies observed Small unloading groceries from her car. When she noticed law enforcement, she reportedly hurried inside and slammed the door.
Deputies attempted to communicate with Small, but she barricaded herself inside. Concerned for the welfare of the children, deputies attempted to gain entry into the home. After unlocking the door with a code, Small tried to block their entry and some force was used to get inside.
Once inside, deputies discovered a 4-year-old girl in need of medical attention. She was initially taken to Mary Rutan Hospital and later transferred to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus due to severe malnutrition and injuries.
Small was arrested on charges of obstructing official business and lodged in the Logan County Jail.
Others indicted were:
Christopher Rodgers, 48, of Dayton: aggravated theft, a felony of the third-degree;
Craig Fry, 52, of Huntsville: improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a felony of the fifth-degree; operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them – OVI, a misdemeanor of the first-degree; failure to comply with opened container of beer or liquor laws, a misdemeanor of the minor degree;
David Lewis, 42, of Bellefontaine: grand theft of a motor vehicle, a felony of the fourth-degree; assault, a misdemeanor of the first-degree; abduction, a felony of the third-degree; aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth-degree; illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor of the fourth-degree; trespass in a habitation when a person is present or likely to be present, a felony of the fourth-degree; breaking and entering, a felony of the fifth-degree;
Dustin Krouse, 39, of Lakeview: aggravated theft, a felony of the third-degree; breaking and entering, a felony of the fifth-degree;
Emily Olvera, 28, of North Lewisburg: operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them – OVI, a misdemeanor of the first-degree; aggravated vehicular assault, a felony of the third-degree;
Franklin Dietz, 63, of Lakeview: operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them – OVI, a misdemeanor of the first-degree; improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a felony of the fifth-degree;
Gina Dyer, 57, of Lakeview: operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them – OVI, 2 counts, unclassified misdemeanors; aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth-degree;
Guillermo Mata, 50, of Marysville: improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a felony of the fourth-degree;
Jamar Crossley, 37, of Columbus: possession of cocaine, a felony of the third-degree;
Jase Chambers, 18, of Marysville: failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a felony of the third-degree; resisting arrest, a misdemeanor of the second-degree; operation in willful and wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property, a misdemeanor of the fourth-degree;
Jessica Shoffner, 36, of Russells Point: aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the second-degree;
Jimmy Higgins, 55, of Belle Center: aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth-degree;
Joshua Muse, 42, of Bainbridge: aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth-degree;
Mateo Rosales, 42, of Bellefontaine: domestic violence, a felony of the fourth-degree; strangulation, 2 counts, felonies of the third-degree and fourth-degree; kidnapping, a felony of the first-degree;
Mark Bryant, 44, of Rushsylvania: theft from a person in a protected class, a felony of the fourth-degree; and
Spencer Puckett, 28, of Springfield: receiving stolen property, a felony of the fourth-degree; failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, 2 counts, felonies of the third-degree.