Grand jury indicts 18; several on drug-related charges

A Carroll County grand jury returned indictments against 18 individuals during a half-day session Nov. 12.

Prosecuting Attorney Steven D. Barnett said the grand jury heard testimony from 15 witnesses.

Indictments were returned against the following:

ERIC D. COWAN, II, 34, of 155 Arrow Rd., Carrollton, one count of Having Weapons While Under Disability, Carrying Concealed Weapons, Aggravated Possession of Drugs and Obstructing Official Business.

Carrollton Police conducted a traffic stop upon a vehicle in which Cowan was a passenger Oct. 20.  Cowan provided a false identity.  When Cowan’s identity was established, he was found to have outstanding arrest warrants from Massillon.  Officers found a loaded handgun concealed beside Cowan’s seat.  He was previously convicted of a felony offense of violence, which disabled him from possessing a firearm.

WILLIAM D. LOHR, 47, and TIFFNEY A. BROWN, 35, both of Pursglove, WV, and STEVEN D. WHITACRE, 31, of Canton, OH, and AMANDA D. TOLLEY, 38, of Canton, OH, were each indicted on Aggravated Possession of Drugs. Lohr was indicted on an additional count of Carrying Concealed Weapons. During a traffic stop by Carrollton Police Nov. 10, all four were found in possession or had access to suspected methamphetamine found in the vehicle.  A loaded handgun was found under the driver’s seat where Lohr was sitting.

RICHARD A. MONIGOLD, 18, of 17 North St., Salineville, Aggravated Possession of Drugs and Possession of Heroin.  On Oct. 15, Carrollton Police Officers took Monigold into custody for an outstanding arrest warrant from Columbiana County.  During a search, officers found methamphetamine and heroin.

ALEXANDER C. WILLIAMS, 23, of 43 W. Mohawk Dr., Malvern, two counts of Breaking and Entering, two counts of Theft, one count of Grand Theft one count of Receiving Stolen Property and Aggravated Possession of Drugs. DYLAN M. SWOGGER, 19, of 9154 Nelson Lane, Malvern, was indicted on Breaking and Entering, Theft, Grand Theft, Improperly Handling Firearms in a Motor Vehicle, Possession of Cocaine and Receiving Stolen Property.  It is alleged that between July and October 2020, Williams and Swogger stole numerous tools from two different Malvern area construction sites.  Sheriff’s deputies later recovered several of the tools from their vehicles when search warrants were executed.  In a separate incident, Williams is charged with entering an outbuilding in Malvern, where he took power tools, hand tools, and copper wiring.  Williams was also found in possession of methamphetamine at the time his vehicle was searched.  In addition to aiding and abetting Williams in two of the thefts and possessing stolen tools taken from the two construction sites, Swogger is also alleged to have possessed cocaine and a stolen pistol, both found during a search of his vehicle by investigators.

RYAN S. PISONY, 26, of 1237 Washington St. SW, Sherrodsville, Breaking and Entering and Theft. He is charged with entering a Sherrodsville area storage unit Oct. 23 and taking approximately $5,000 worth of property that included military memorabilia owned by a veteran.

DONALD J. HAMILTON, JR., 33, of 5098 Elk Rd., Carrollton, Receiving Stolen Property.  On Oct. 7, sheriff deputies allegedly found Hamilton at a Salineville Rd. residence in possession of a motor vehicle that was reported stolen from Stark County.

NATHANIEL B. McDANIEL, 30, of 3140 Canton Rd. NW, Carrollton, Carrying Concealed Weapons and one count of Driving Under OVI Suspension.  Sheriff deputies conducted a traffic stop Oct. 24 upon a vehicle operated by McDaniel.  McDaniel was found to be operating the vehicle while his license was suspended. A loaded handgun was found in the center console of the vehicle.

BRADLEY O. DRAKE, 39, of 508 East Broadway St., Alliance, Aggravated Possession of Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia Offense. Sheriff deputies took Drake into custody Oct. 17 for an outstanding arrest warrant from Columbiana County.  During his arrest, deputies found suspected methamphetamine and a glass pipe used to smoke methamphetamine in his possession.

MICHAEL S. HERRON, 55, of, Canton, Assault, Resisting Arrest, and Obstructing Official Business.  Sheriff deputies were dispatched to the Corner Bar near Minerva Oct. 13 for a reported unruly patron.  On arrival, Herron refused to provide identification to deputies and, when deputies began to arrest Herron, he became combative, head-butting one of the deputies.

JOSHUA A. ARBAUGH, 42, of 239 Poker Rd., Scio, Aggravated Possession of Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia Offenses. Carrollton Police officers took Arbaugh into custody Oct. 13 for an outstanding arrest warrant from Stark County after he was observed by officers walking towards the entrance of a Carrollton business. Officers found methamphetamine and a glass pipe used to smoke methamphetamine in his possession.

PAUL M. WILCOX, III, 32, of West Lafayette, Aggravated Possession of Drugs. On Oct. 30, Carrollton Police stopped a vehicle operated by Wilcox for a headlight violation on West Main St.  During a probable cause search of the vehicle, officers found psilocybin (“magic”) mushrooms.

GREGORY C. RITTERBECK, 29, of Canton, Domestic Violence. On October 10, 2020, Ritterbeck assaulted his spouse at a Minerva area residence.  Investigation by Minerva Police officers discovered Ritterbeck was previously convicted of domestic violence in the Canton Municipal Court in 2016.

JOSEPH W. LEAKE, 48, of 941 SR 524, Bergholz, Aggravated Possession of Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia Offenses. 2020, Carrollton Police took Leake into custody Nov. 4 for an outstanding arrest warrant from Jefferson County.  During the arrest, methamphetamine and a pipe used to smoke methamphetamine were found in the vehicle he was operating.

LANCE C. STOFEN, 28, of 104 High St., Scio, Carrying Concealed Weapons.  Carrollton Police officers conducted a traffic stop Nov. 11 for a traffic violation upon a vehicle operated by Stofen.  During a search, officers found a loaded handgun concealed in the center console of the vehicle.

Arraignments are scheduled in Court of Common Pleas Nov. 19 at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Michael V. Repella, II.