PRESS RELEASE – Defiance County Prosecuting Attorney Morris J. Murray has released the following information regarding recent indictments returned by a Defiance County Grand Jury on April 1, 2026:
Among those indicted was 63-year-old John J. Okuley, of Columbus, for shooting a family member at a residence on Painter Road, in Defiance.
-JOHN C. OKULEY, age 63, 3645 Olentangy Blvd., Columbus, was indicted for one count of attempted murder, a felony of the first degree, as well as one count of felonious assault, a felony of the second degree.
These offenses include a gun specification which will result in additional mandatory prison time if convicted. Authorities allege that on March 21, 2026, at a residence on Painter Road, in Defiance, Okuley, utilizing a 9mm handgun, fired two shots at an adult female, attempting to cause her death and causing her serious physical harm by means of the firearm. Thereafter Okuley fled the area, eventually being apprehended in the state of Indiana.
Other indictments included:
-MATTHEW J. COSTANZO, age 39, 130 Wabash Ave., Defiance, was indicted for one count of strangulation, as a felony of the second degree, as well as one count of strangulation and one count of domestic violence, each a felony of the third degree, and five counts of violating a protection order, each a felony of the fifth degree.
Authorities allege that from Feb. 28, 2026, through March 3, 2026, at his residence on Wabash Ave., in Defiance, Costanzo caused serious physical harm to the victim by means of strangulation or suffocation.
Authorities further allege that Costanzo caused or created a substantial risk of serious physical harm to the victim by means of strangulation or suffocation. Authorities further allege that Costanzo also caused or attempted to cause physical harm to a family or household member and he has three prior domestic violence convictions.
Authorities allege that from March 13, 2026, through March 17, 2026, Costanzo violated the terms of an active protection order against him, by contacting the protected party named in the order multiple times from CCNO. Costanzo also has a prior conviction of violating a protection order.
-ASHLEY A. FLOYD, age 39, 264 Vause Lake Road, Vero Beach, Fla., was indicted for one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the second degree, and three counts of theft, each a felony of the fifth degree.
Authorities allege that on or about Jan. 26, 2026, Floyd, along with an unidentified male, broke windows and stole items from several vehicles in the area of Greenhouse Ave. and Spruce Street in Defiance. Items stolen included debit and credit cards.
Authorities further allege that Floyd’s conduct was part of a course of criminal conduct constituting the offense of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.
-NICHOLAS E. GENTNER, age 45, 592 St. Paul St., Defiance, was indicted for two counts of strangulation, each a felony of the fourth degree, and two counts of domestic violence, each a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Authorities allege that on Oct. 4, 2025, at a residence on W. Second St., in Defiance, Gentner caused or attempted to cause physical harm to a family or household member, and he also caused or created a substantial risk of physical harm to the victim by means of strangulation or suffocation.
Authorities further allege that on March 22, 2026, at his residence on St. Paul St., in Defiance, Gentner caused or attempted to cause physical harm to a family or household member, and he also caused or created a substantial risk of physical harm to the victim by means of strangulation or suffocation.
-JAMES E. KRAEGEL, age 66, 221 E. Second St., Defiance, was indicted for one count of burglary, a felony of the second degree, and one count of burglary, a felony of the third degree.
Authorities allege that on March 14, 2026, Kraegel forced entry into a residence on Summit St., in Defiance, with purpose to commit a criminal offense while inside the residence. Authorities further allege that Kraegel then stole property from the residence.
-JOSHUA J. BROWN, age 42, 1696 Durango Drive, Defiance, was indicted for one count of domestic violence, a felony of the third degreAuthorities allege that on March 10, 2026, at his residence on Durango Drive, in Defiance, Brown caused or attempted to cause physical harm to a family or household member, and he has three prior domestic violence convictions.
-TIMOTHY G. GRUNDEN, age 46, 629 Dakota Place, Defiance, was indicted for two counts of menacing by stalking, each a felony of the fourth degree. Authorities allege that on March 14, 2026, Grunden engaged in a pattern of conduct that caused mental distress to another and caused the victim to believe that he would cause them or their family physical harm. Authorities further allege that Grunden also trespassed on the land or premises where the victim lives, and he has a history of violence.
-NATALIE L. BABCOCK, age 34, address unknown, was indicted for one count of possession of cocaine and two counts of possession of a fentanyl-related compound, each a felony of the fifth degree. Authorities allege that on Aug. 13, 2025, at a residence on Dakota Place, in Defiance, Babcock was found in possession of cocaine and fentanyl-related compounds.
-MARK A. BARRETT, age 57, address unknown, was indicted for one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. Authorities allege that on Aug. 13, 2025, at a residence on Dakota Place, in Defiance, Barrett was found in possession of psilocyn, a Schedule I drug.
-DANIELLE S. VAUGHN, age 36, 1224 West St., Evansport, was indicted for one count of corrupting another with drugs, a felony of the fourth degree. Authorities allege that on or about Feb. 12, 2026, Vaughn furnished marijuana, a Schedule I drug, to a juvenile.
-ALAN M. JEWELL, age 43, 308 1/2 Ralston Ave., Defiance, was indicted for one count of failure to provide notice of change in vehicle information or identifiers, a felony of the fourth degree. Authorities allege that from Feb. 12, 2026, through Feb. 23, 2026, Jewell, a registered sex offender, failed to notify the sheriff’s office of his change in internet identifiers, as required. Jewell is a registered sex offender who was convicted of sexual imposition in 2023.
-DARIN L. CONLEY, age 39, 343 Meuse Argonne St., Hicksville, was indicted for one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree. Authorities allege that on March 4, 2026, at his residence on Meuse Argonne St., in Hicksville, Conley was found in possession of methamphetamine, a Schedule II drug.
-AUSTIN R. BARD, age 32, 1289 Flickinger Road, Bryan, was indicted for one count of vandalism, a felony of the fifth degree, and one count of trespass in a habitation when a person is present or likely to be present, a felony of the fourth degree. Authorities allege that on March 8, 2026, Bard trespassed in a residence on Flickinger Road, in Bryan, and when arrested caused serious physical harm to a deputy’s cruiser.
-RICHARD A. SIMS, age 51, 1211 Stamford Road, Ypsilanti, Mich., was indicted for one count of identity fraud, a felony of the fifth degree. Authorities allege that on or about Nov. 13, 2025, Sims used the personal identifying information of another, without their consent, and with the intent to hold himself out to be said individual.
-TINA M. PEIO, age 57, 15570 Highland Center Road, Defiance, was indicted for one count of possession of cocaine, a felony of the fifth degree. Authorities allege that on Jan. 2, 2026, during a traffic stop on Douglas St., in Defiance, Peio was found in possession of cocaine.
-ALFRED C. PERRY, age 71, 3560 Theodore St., Detroit, was indicted for one count of failure to appear as required by recognizance, a felony of the fourth degree. Authorities allege that on Jan. 8, 2026, Perry failed to appear at the Defiance County Common Pleas Court for a pre-trial hearing, in connection with the commission of a felony, after having been released on a personal recognizance bond.
Arraignments are scheduled for April 22, 2026, at 9 a.m.