Fake money purchases lead to indictments

A Carroll County grand jury indicted two area men for using fake money to purchase items in Dellroy and Malvern during a full-day session Sept. 6.
According to Carroll County Prosecuting Attorney Steven D. Barnett, the grand jury heard testimony from 15 witnesses involving 14 cases. Indictments were returned in all 14 cases.
TIMOTHY S. CZUCHAJ, 47, of 117 S. Reed, Malvern, and CHARLES L. STOUT, 56, of 604 N. Lisbon St. Carrollton, were each indicted on two counts of Counterfeiting. Czuchaj was also indicted on one count of Misdemeanor Theft By Deception, while Stout was also indicted on two counts of Misdemeanor Theft by Deception.
On July 7, Stout used a fake $100 bill to purchase several items from a Malvern area gas station, doing so again at the same gas station July 25. Czuchaj is alleged to have presented a fake $100 bill to purchase items from a store in Dellroy. In both cases, the investigation determined the fake bills were motion picture props.
An Alliance man, TYLER JAMES NIDY, 23, was indicted on seven counts of Gross Sexual Imposition, each a third-degree felony.
Barnett said Nidy, a camp counselor, inappropriately touched seven different females, under age 13, over their clothing between May 8 and May 11. The females, students from Toronto Schools, were attending a camp program at Camp Muskingum.
Others indicted include:
JEFFERY H. BENNETT, 30, of Alliance, Domestic Violence. It is alleged Bennett assaulted a male household member with whom he resided Aug. 11 at a Malvern area residence. Bennett was previously convicted of Domestic Violence in 2017 in Alliance Municipal Court.
ROBERT L. BLIND, 35, of East Sparta, Aggravated Possession of Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia Offenses. On July 30, Blind was found in possession of approximately six grams of methamphetamine following a traffic stop in Brown Township for a traffic violation. Deputies also found two grinders used to process methamphetamine for use.
LAWRENCE M. THOMAS, 43, of Jewett, Aggravated Possession of Drugs and of Possessing Drug Abuse Instruments. Carroll County Sheriff deputies, responding to investigate a suspicious vehicle on State Route 43 near Amsterdam April 3, discovered approximately one gram of methamphetamine in a baggy found in Thomas’ pocket.
BRIAN J. STROUTH, 32, of Cleveland, Burglary and Misdemeanor Theft. On Aug. 6, Strouth was discovered sleeping in a vehicle in the driveway of a Malvern residence. Deputies determined Strouth entered the home through a window while the owner was away. He was found wearing clothing belonging to the homeowner.
RYAN J. PARISAN, 22, Waynesburg, Possession of Cocaine. Parisan was found in possession of cocaine Aug. 10 following a traffic stop of the vehicle he was riding in near Malvern.
MARANDA M. BUCK, 43, of Robertsville, Aggravated Possession of Drugs. On August 4, Buck was found in possession of suspected methamphetamine following a traffic stop and a K-9 search of the vehicle by sheriff deputies in Minerva.
MARY J. COFFY, 52, of 200 Maple Avenue NW, Carrollton, Tampering With Evidence, Drug Paraphernalia Offenses and Driving Under a Twelve-Point Suspension. Sheriff deputies observed Coffy operating a vehicle while under a driver’s license suspension Aug. 2. During the traffic stop, Coffy discarded an aluminum can from the vehicle and a glass pipe used to smoke drugs.
MARGARET C. PARRISH, 38, of 316 E. Grant Street, Malvern, Aggravated Possession of Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia Offenses. Methamphetamine was found in Parrish’s purse during a search July 29 following a traffic stop of the vehicle she was riding in near Malvern. Two cut straws used to inhale methamphetamine were also found.
ROBERT A. ATKINSON, 45, of Steubenville, Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound, Possessing Drug Abuse Instruments and Drug Paraphernalia Offenses. On Aug. 9, a baggy of Fentanyl, several syringes, tourniquets, cotton balls, a bowl and a glass pipe were found during a search of Atkinson’s vehicle following his arrest for an outstanding warrant at a Dellroy area residence.
JOSHUA A. BROWN, 34, of 5699 Steubenville Road, Amsterdam, Aggravated Possession of Drugs, Possession of Drugs, Possessing Drug Abuse Instruments and Drug Paraphernalia Offenses. Sheriff deputies found Brown in possession of approximately nine grams of methamphetamine, one gram of Benzodiazepine and several hypodermic needles used to administer those drugs in a vehicle when deputies were investigating a complaint of a suspicious vehicle at a Steubenville Road residence May 30.
HEATHER R. HODKINSON, 37, of New Philadelphia, Identity Fraud Against a Person in a Protected Class and Misuse of Credit Cards. Between April 25 and May 12, Hodkinson used the identity of an elderly person for whom she cared for and opened a credit card and made several purchases in Carroll and Tuscarawas counties totaling less than $1,000.
Arraignments are scheduled Sept. 21 in Carroll County Common Pleas Court before Judge Michael V. Repella, II.