The Williams County Grand Jury convened on Thursday, October 17 and returned indictments against fifteen individuals facing a total of twenty-nine charges. Those indicted include:
Meranda C. Ayers, 20, of Marshall, Michigan was indicted for domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony. Ayers is accused of causing or attempting to cause physical harm to a family or household member on or about October 10, 2019 after having been previously convicted of a domestic violence offense.
Tyler J. Bowen, 52, of Montpelier was indicted for domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony. It is alleged that Bowen caused or attempted to cause harm to family or household member on or about September 30 after having previously been convicted of a domestic violence charge.
Dustin D. Carroll, 35, of Montpelier was indicted for tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony. Carroll is accused of misleading a public official engaged in an official proceeding or investigation or on or about October 16, 2019.
Jennipher J. Fisher, 42, of Montpelier was indicted for failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony. Fisher is charged with failing to appear as required by the court in connection to a previous felony charge.
D’Angelo L. Foreman, 24, of Toledo was indicted for domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony. It is alleged that Foreman caused or attempted to cause physical harm to a family or household member on or about October 15, 2019 after having previously been convicted of a domestic violence offense.
Gabriel K. Gambler, 41, of Montpelier was indicted for driving under court suspension, a first-degree misdemeanor, and failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony. Authorities allege that on or about October 2, Gambler willingly tried to flee or elude a police officer having received a visible or audible signal from the officer to stop. Gambler is additionally accused of driving a vehicle while being under court suspension.
David E. Herman, 51, of Bryan was indicted on two counts of domestic violence, each a fourth-degree felony, and one count of resisting arrest, a second-degree felony. It is alleged that Herman caused or attempted to cause harm to two family or household members on or about October 13, after having previously been convicted of a domestic violence charge. It is additionally alleged that Herman recklessly or by force resisted or interfered with his lawful arrest on that date.
David W. Lawrence, 26, of Edon was indicted on four counts of rape, all felonies of the first degree. Lawrence is accused of using threat or force to engage in sexual activity with a fourteen-year-old girl between the approximate dates of May 1, 2017 and July 1, 2017.
Logan W. Lirot, 30, of Montpelier was indicted on a total of five counts including receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony; operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other drug of abuse, a first-degree misdemeanor; failure to stop after an accident, a first-degree misdemeanor; and two counts of assault, each fourth-degree felonies. The charges stem from incidents occurring on or about September 6, 2019, when Lirot is accused of receiving a stolen truck, driving under the influence of alcohol or other drug of abuse, and failing to stop after an accident. Lirot is additionally charged with causing or attempting to cause physical harm to a law enforcement officer and a person performing emergency medical service on that day.
Craig M.A. Mosler, Jr., 23, of Edgerton was indicted on one count of driving under a twelve-point suspension, a first-degree misdemeanor, and one count of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony. It is alleged that on or about September 30 Mosler attempted to willfully elude or flee a police officer after receiving a visible or audible signal from that officer to stop as well as that Mosler was driving while his driver’s license was suspended due to points at that time. A specification to the failure to comply count indicates that vehicle Mosler was driving at the time of the offense was instrumentality used at the time of the offense and is therefor subject to seizure and forfeiture.
Harley A. Palenske, 24, of Defiance was indicted for failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony. Palenske is charged with failing to appear as required by the court in connection with a previous felony charge.
Charles R. Pettifurd, 36, of Montpelier was indicted on one count of theft, a fifth-degree felony, and one count of vandalism, a fourth-degree felony. It is alleged that Pettifurd stole property or services from Walmart of Bryan between the approximate dates of September 16, 2019 and October 5, 2019 as well as that he caused physical harm to property owned by Walmart on or about October 4, 2019.
Demetrius M. Slaughter, II, 30, of Toledo was indicted for harassment with a bodily substance, a third-degree felony. Slaughter is accused of expelling a bodily substance on a corrections officer on or about September 11, 2019.
Steven J. Walker, 51, of Montpelier was indicted on one count of second-degree felony aggravated possession of drugs, one fifth-degree felony count of aggravated possession of drugs, and having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony. The charges originate from an incident that occurred on or about September 26, 2019, when it is alleged that Walker possessed or used methamphetamine and Hyrdocone as well as was in possession of a handgun after having previously been charged of a felony drug offense.
Zachery W. Whitten, 30, of Morenci, Michigan was indicted for failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony. Whitten is charged with failing to appear as required by the court in connection with a previous felony charge.
It should be noted that an indictment is merely an accusation, and that all criminal defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.