Grand jury indicts four in theft of converters
By MARK LAW, Staff writer
POSTED: May 8, 2008
STEUBENVILLE — Ten people were indicted by the Jefferson County grand jury on Wednesday, four for allegedly stealing catalytic converters off vehicles.
Donald E. Wells, 31, of 2957 Sunset Blvd. and Marcus J. Hale, 28, of St. Helena, S.C., were each indicted on one count of felony theft.
Wells and Hale were caught by Wells Township Police and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department on March 31 cutting catalytic converters off vehicles at Rocky’s Auto Salvage, county Road 74, Mingo Junction.
The sheriff’s department reported the son of the owner was watching the salvage yard after catalytic converters were cut off 10 vehicles.
The son called police around 4:40 a.m. on March 31 after noticing a man under a vehicle at the salvage yard.
Wells Township officers and county sheriff’s deputies caught one man under the vehicle and another man standing beside the vehicle.
A deputy reported the man under the vehicle had a reciprocating saw attached to a car battery. The man also had two flashlights and a book bag with a battery inside and extra saw blades, a deputy reported. The men apparently had already cut four catalytic converters off vehicles at the salvage yard when they were caught, a deputy reported.
Gary Lee Merritt, 36, of 836 Smithfield St., Mingo Junction, was indicted on single counts of theft and vandalism for cutting a catalytic converter off a vehicle at a Steubenville car lot on Feb. 2, said Jefferson County Prosecutor Thomas Straus.
Christopher T. Curry, 30, of East Canton was indicted on one count of theft and two counts of vandalism for cutting a catalytic converter off vehicles at two car dealerships in Wintersville in December. Wintersville Police reported Curry was apprehended in Carroll County and mentioned he had taken catalytic converters from vehicles in Wintersville. A village police detective interviewed Curry and he admitted to the thefts in Wintersville.
The grand jury also returned a breaking and entering indictment against Joshua A. Brown, 18, of 553 Monroe Ave., Bergholz. Straus said Brown broke into a Bergholz restaurant on March 1 and stole money.
Joseph R. Mickey Jr., 21, of county Road 47, Toronto, was indicted on one count of felonious assault. Straus said Mickey punched a man in the face at Friendly’s Tavern on county Road 75, Wolf Run, on Feb. 22 resulting in serious physical injury to the victim.
James E. Huggins, 27, of 1310 Franklin St., Toronto, was indicted on one count of robbery. Straus said Huggins took a purse from a woman getting out of a vehicle on South Fourth Street on April 11. Huggins was apprehended by City Police a short time later still in possession of the purse, Straus said.
Robert J. Drake, 24, of 1130 Wilson Ave. was indicted on single counts of breaking and entering and receiving stolen property. Straus said Drake broke into a building near the Steubenville Marina on Jan. 30 and stole pipe.
Jamie E. Barker, 33, of East Liverpool was indicted on one count of felony possession of marijuana.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol notified Jefferson County authorities on March 24 of vehicles the patrol noticed on Interstate 70 that were suspected of carrying drugs. One vehicle was pulled over by the patrol in the Brilliant area and $3,500 was found in the vehicle. The county sheriff’s department pulled over Barker’s car on state Route 7 in Steubenville and 5 pounds of marijuana were found in the vehicle. Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla said it appeared the men were running marijuana from Columbus through Jefferson County and into Columbiana County.
Gerald E. Pasco, 39, of county Road 25, Rayland, was indicted on misdemeanor counts of having physical control of a vehicle while under the influence and failure to disclose personal information. Straus said Pasco’s case will be sent back to Toronto county court.
Arraignment are scheduled for 8 a.m. Monday before Jefferson County Common Pleas Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. at the Jefferson County Justice Center.
(Law can be contacted at mlaw@heraldstaronline.com.)
