Executive Summary
- Grand juries in Butler and Warren counties indicted 40 individuals in recent sessions.
- Charges in Butler County include reckless homicide, multiple counts of rape, and kidnapping.
- Warren County indictments include possession of deadly weapons under detention and felonious assault.
- The legal process now moves to arraignment for the accused individuals.
Grand juries convened in Butler and Warren counties have returned indictments against 40 individuals, involving a wide range of criminal charges extending from reckless homicide and rape to aggravated drug possession and theft. The indictments follow recent sessions where prosecutors presented evidence to the panels to determine probable cause for criminal prosecution.
In Butler County, the grand jury handed down several indictments involving severe violent crimes. According to court filings, Fred Anthony Carr II and Caleb Anthony Carr were both indicted on counts of reckless homicide. The grand jury also returned extensive charges against Joseph Wade Boggs Jr., who faces seven counts of rape, two counts of kidnapping, and assault. Additionally, Edward Grewell was indicted on 14 counts of gross sexual imposition and three counts of rape, while James Aaron Murphy faces charges including rape, kidnapping, and gross sexual imposition.
The Butler County proceedings also addressed numerous narcotics and weapons violations. Defendants such as Adam Monroe and Matthew J. Thomas were indicted on charges including aggravated possession of drugs and possession of fentanyl-related compounds. Ry’mere Johnson was indicted for carrying concealed weapons and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle.
In Warren County, indictments covered a variety of offenses including drug possession, domestic violence, and crimes committed within correctional facilities. Court records indicate that Cory Jay Phillips was indicted for possession of a deadly weapon while under detention. Other indictments included Kasaundra Leigh Walker for possession of cocaine and Derrick Sincere Banks, who faces charges of felonious assault and failure to comply with police orders.
Procedural Context and Legal Standards
A grand jury operates as an investigative body responsible for reviewing evidence presented by the state to determine whether there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. These proceedings are conducted in secret and are generally one-sided, as the accused does not present a defense and witnesses are not subject to cross-examination. An indictment is a formal accusation required to bring a case to trial, not a conviction. It is important to note that all individuals named in these indictments are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
