STEUBENVILLE - The Jefferson County grand jury on Wednesday returned indictments in connection with two Wintersville-area business robberies and a gunfight on May 21 in the city's South End.
Westley Bowling, 25, of 457 S. Fifth St. was indicted on a charge of felonious assault, with gun and gang specifications, and having a weapon under disability,
City Police believe Bowling was the man who got out of a SUV on May 21 in the 400 block of South Fifth Street and began firing shots at a group of people outside an apartment. Police said people outside the apartment returned fire. Two apartments were hit by stray bullets but nobody was hit with the gunfire, police reported.
Bowling was sentenced in July 2005 to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to carrying a concealed weapon, having a gun as a convicted felon and tampering with evidence.
County Prosecutor Jane Hanlin said Bowling got out of the SUV and began waiving a red flag, the colors of a gang, to incite the other group, and then began firing the shots.
Jeremy Starr, 28, of Lot 3, 340 Springdale Ave., Wintersville, was indicted on two counts of robbery, with firearm specifications.
Starr was arrested by Wintersville Police and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department on Monday in connection with two armed robberies - Dollar General on Canton Road, Wintersville, on Sunday and at Jack's Sunshine Shop, 206 Springdale Ave., Wintersville, on Monday.
Wintersville Police questioned people on Monday, who said Starr was the person involved in the robberies. Wintersville officers and county sheriff's deputies went to Starr's residence, where he confessed to the robberies. A toy gun believed to have been used in the robberies was found at the residence, the sheriff's department reported.
Starr told the deputies and Wintersville officers that he bought heroin with the cash taken in the robberies.
The workers at the tanning business were shown a photograph lineup and identified Starr as the robber, the sheriff's department reported.
O'Brian Moore, 23, of 330 Summit Ave. was indicted on single counts of having a weapon under disability, carrying a concealed weapon, tampering with evidence and obstructing official business.
City Police were dispatched to the area of Seventh and Market streets on April 20 after receiving a report of a group of men, with one believed to be armed.
The investigating officer said he called from his vehicle for Moore to stop but he ran down an alley between the 100 block of Seventh Street and the railroad tracks.
Police said Moore continued toward South Sixth Street and the parking lot of the City Rescue Mission, where he removed a small handgun from his waist and threw it at the north wall of the mission's building but it fell back down.
Police said Moore ran into Sixth Street, with a police cruiser close behind him. He then stopped abruptly and was struck in the legs by the vehicle's front grille, causing him to fall, police said.
The grand jury also indicted a man in connection with the theft of telephone wire in March and April in the Steubenville-Mingo Junction area.
Vernon J. Jackson, 28, of 246 Lincoln Ave., Steubenville, was indicted on single counts of receiving stolen property and disrupting public service.
James A. Roe, 29, of Mingo Junction, a codefedant, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges of complicity to theft and disrupting public service and was sentenced by Jefferson County Common Pleas Judge David Henderson to 24 months in prison.
Donald A. Sadler, 53, of 2514 Sunset Blvd. was indicted on single counts of attempted burglary, aggravated arson, arson and aggravated menacing.
Hanlin said Sadler was living with people on Christopher Avenue, Wintersville, when he was thrown out on April 27, Sadler attempted to break into the residence and then lit a vehicle outside on fire, Hanlin said.
The grand jury also indicted:
Brandi R. Blanton, 33, of 710 Trenton Ave., Toronto, felony theft and forgery. Hanlin said Blanton was working as a health care worker and stole about $36,000 from an elderly couple from July through December, while the husband was dying.
Jeremy T. Crihfield, 25, of 161 Valley View Drive, Bergholz, three counts of burglary and one count of theft.
John E. Fowler, 39, of 3511 Orchard St., Weirton, aggravated trafficking in drugs and tampering with evidence.
Malcolm L. Hython, 19, of 44630 Williams Road, Cadiz, complicity to burglary and complicity to theft.
Kenneth W. Sherrel Jr., 26, of 2518 Sunset Blvd., possession of drugs, theft and obstructing official business.
Laura L. Wade, 22, of 733 Kendel Ave., possession of drugs.
Stedmund C. Creech, 22, of 1305 Wellesley Ave., two counts of drug trafficking, one with a school specification.
