James D. Worley, 57, Delta has been indicted Tuesday, August 16 on 19 counts concerning the death of Sierah Joughin, 20, Metamora. Joughin’s body was found in a field on July 22, two days after she had gone missing during a bike ride.
Worley could face the death penalty as a result of the charges which now include:
•2 counts of aggravated murder, unclassified felonies, with specifications for the death penalty
•2 counts of murder, unclassified felonies
•2 counts of aggravated robbery, first degree felonies
•4 counts of kidnapping, first degree felonies
•2 counts of felonious assault, second degree felonies
•2 counts of abduction, third degree felonies
•1 count of tampering with evidence, a third degree felony
•2 counts of having weapons while on disability, third degree felonies
•1 count of possession of criminal tools, a fifth degree felony
•1 count of abuse of a corpse, a fifth degree felony
Worley has been held without bond at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio since he was originally charged with one count of aggravated murder, an unclassified felony, and one count of abduction, a third degree felony.
The duplicated counts of new charges are due to the crimes being listed in different subsections of the Ohio Revised Code.
Worley’s arraignment was held Friday, August 19 at 10:30 AM and he appeared via live circuit TV from CCNO.
Due to the death penalty charges, an attorney qualified to handle such cases needed to be appointed to the case. Because Worley noted that he could not afford such an attorney, the court appointed Mark Burling of Toledo to represent Worley.
With the new appointment, Worley did not enter any pleas to the charges. A second arraignment will be held in September for this purpose.
INFORMATION PROVIDED