FARMINGTON – A Franklin County grand jury has indicted 17 in charges ranging from criminal trespass to burglary.
An indictment means that after considering the evidence a district attorney has presented, a grand jury believes there is probable cause, or a “reasonable belief” that the crime occurred. A grand jury of up to 23 people need not be unanimous and does not need to be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt like a regular trial jury.
Three people were indicted on charges relating to a string of burglaries that hit Strong residences months ago. Police have said they were able to break that case by tracing stolen and abandoned goods back to individuals who were then interviewed. In some cases weapons allegedly taken in burglaries were sold to unsuspecting residents in northern Franklin County.
Police also say they discovered a strong box, taken from one of the burglarized properties behind a house belonging to Glendon F. Ladd, 19, of Freeman Township. The box had been forced open with several bullet holes in it.
Ladd was charged with three counts of burglary, a Class B felony, and three counts of theft by unauthorized taking, also a Class B felony. Heather Haley, 21, of Avon, was charged with a count of receiving stolen property, a Class B felony. Jonathan C. Parker, 20, of Phillips, was charged with two counts of receiving stolen property.
Also indicted was James Burnell, also known as James Hodges, 35, of Jay, who is accused of stealing a Verso paper company truck and attempting to drive it out of the company’s parking lot on May 19. Police say Burnell caused damage and knocked down power lines when he forgot to lower the truck bed. That damage caused blackouts across the town of Jay.
When the Jay police and fire departments arrived, the dump truck had power lines lying across it. Burnell was transported to Franklin Memorial Hospital following the accident.
He has been charged with aggravated criminal mischief and unauthorized use of property, both Class C felonies, as well as criminal trespassing and violating the conditions of release.
Some of the others indicted include Luchen Bowie, 18, Carthage, on counts of terrorizing and discharging a firearm near a residence.
Christopher Crandall, 21, Farmington, on a count of aggravated criminal mischief, as well as counts of burglary and theft by unauthorized.
Roy Elliott, 40, Chesterville, indicted for a charge of domestic violence terrorizing.
Brandon Ryder, 25, Wilton, for unlawful possession of schedule drugs.
Hope Stenson, 40, Farmington, charged with unauthorized taking, as well as counts of theft by unauthorized taking and violation condition of release in a separate case.
Amanda Wilcox, 26, Avon, on a count of tampering with a witness or informant
