Executive Summary
- A Knox County grand jury indicted 12 individuals during its recent session.
- Charges include kidnapping, strangulation, domestic violence, and theft from an elderly person.
- Multiple defendants face felony charges for aggravated possession of drugs.
- The cases will proceed to the Court of Common Pleas for arraignment.
MOUNT VERNON — A Knox County grand jury returned indictments against 12 individuals during a recent session, filing charges that range from kidnapping and strangulation to aggravated drug possession and theft from the elderly, according to court filings.
Among the most serious allegations, the grand jury indicted Zachariah T. Thomas of Howard on a second-degree felony charge of kidnapping. Court documents state Thomas also faces charges of strangulation, disrupting public services, aggravated menacing, assault, and unlawful restraint. In a separate case involving violent conduct, Jaron M. Dean of Mount Vernon was indicted on a charge of domestic violence, a third-degree felony.
Financial and property crimes were also addressed in the session. Shailyn R. Hill was charged with theft from an elderly person, a fourth-degree felony, and misuse of credit cards. Additionally, Stephen E. Deshong and Britnie D. Brauchler were indicted on fifth-degree felony theft charges. Deshong faces an additional count of driving under suspension, while Brauchler was charged with wrongful entrustment of a motor vehicle.
Several indictments focused on controlled substances. The grand jury charged Tanner L. Plitcha, Quiana H. Major, Miranda J. Pratt, and Radusta L. Friedley with aggravated possession of drugs. Ronald J. Harmon was indicted for possession of a fentanyl-related compound. In other matters, Javon I. Nguyen was charged with failure to comply with the order of a police officer, and Austin D. Schnars faces charges of tampering with evidence and resisting arrest.
Judicial Procedural Context
The return of these indictments signals that the grand jury has found sufficient probable cause to bring the defendants to trial in the Court of Common Pleas. The next step in the judicial process involves the arraignment of the accused, where they will be formally read the charges and enter a plea. It is important to note that an indictment is a formal accusation, and all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
