Grand jury indicts 26 in December

The Hardin County grand jury issued 26 indictments this month with more than half of those involving theft- or fraud-related offenses.

The grand jury indicted five in December for felony welfare fraud. One defendant faces unemployment fraud.

In November, 33 indictments were returned involving drug offenses. This month, six defendants were indicted for drug charges.

The grand jury returned indictments against two Radcliff men facing allegations of first-degree rape — Dambrocio A. Hughes, 27, and Tyree James Sherman, 21.

In addition to rape, Sherman faces a charge of fourth-degree assault.

Sherman has been lodged since Oct. 30 in Hardin County Detention Center in lieu of a $50,000 cash bond.

He is scheduled for arraignment Jan. 22 in Hardin Circuit Court.

An indictment is an allegation, not proof of guilt. A defendant is innocent until proven guilty.

DRUG OFFENSES

Dominic A. Meriwether, 25, criminal conspiracy to trafficking in marijuana — gun enhanced, complicity to commit first-degree possession of a controlled substance, complicity to commit possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor

Warren Cecil Fryer Jr., 24, tampering with physical evidence, first-degree possession of a controlled substance and second-degree persistent felony offense

Travis Joe Palmerton, 27, complicity to commit tampering with physical evidence, complicity to commit first-degree possession of a controlled substance, complicity to commit possession of drug paraphernalia, complicity to commit possession of marijuana and second-degree persistent felony offense

Hasina Miana Marie Prince, 27, criminal conspiracy to trafficking in marijuana, complicity to commit first-degree possession of a controlled substance, complicity to commit possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor

Hanna S. Carey, 21, complicity to commit tampering with physical evidence, complicity to commit first-degree possession of a controlled substance, complicity to commit possession of drug paraphernalia and complicity to commit possession of marijuana

Joseph Alan Mitchell Jr., 29, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance — greater than 2 grams and gun enhanced, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, operating on a suspended operator’s license, no insurance, failure to signal and first-degree persistent felony offense

BURGLARY, THEFT, FRAUD

Donnie Wayne Clontz Sr., 49, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and receiving stolen firearm

Patricia Denise Story, 36, welfare fraud more than $100

Crystal Jade Skidmore, 30, welfare fraud more than $100 and second-degree persistent felony offense

Chad J. Jones, 20, third-degree burglary and first-degree criminal mischief

Leslie Roy Horton, 43, unemployment fraud more than $100

Trina A. Greer, 33, welfare fraud more than $100

Laurie Fezeu, 33, two counts of welfare fraud more than $100

Beau Allen Elder, 30, two counts of theft by unlawful taking more than $500

Barry Alan Ellis, 58, two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card more than $500 and fraudulent use of a credit card less than $500

Jannine Sue Mulligan, 48, welfare fraud more than $100

Arthur Jamison Ancell, 33, theft by unlawful taking more than $500 and first-degree persistent felony offense

Brandon S. Clontz, 20, theft by unlawful taking — firearm

Christy Lynn Crites, 39, fraudulent use of a credit card more than $500 and second-degree persistent felony offense

OTHER

Valerie Ann Blake, 47, first-degree assault and driving under the influence — second offense

Travis Joe Palmerton, 27, first-degree bail jumping and second-degree persistent felony offense

Brandon S. Clontz, 20, first-degree bail jumping

Sarah Bennett can be reached at (270) 505-1750 or sbennett@thenewsenterprise.com.