An East Liberty man who set allegedly set fire to his rural home in 2009 and again in 2020 was among 21 people indicted this week by a Logan County grand jury.
Wesley A. Helfenstine, 49, of East Liberty, has been charged with two counts of aggravated arson, felonies of the second degree; and grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, a felony of the third degree.
He was taken into custody after teams of deputies from Logan, Hardin and Union counties swept through his family’s 50-acre property at 10975 Township Road 157. He had a .22-caliber rifle in his possession when deputies found him.
On Sept. 21, he allegedly set fire to the family home. Logan County Prosecutor Eric Stewart said the origin of the fire indicates it was intentionally set.
The house was destroyed by the blaze.
A second count of arson was filed for a fire at the same residence on Sept. 21, 2009.
Helfenstine’s father, James “Martin” Helfenstine, died Sept. 21, 2020, at the age of 82, and the property was in estate at the time of the fire.
The defendant allegedly took several firearms from the home prior to the fire.
Men face rape charges
Two city men were charged with rape involving separate victims under the age of 10.
Patrick D. Newsome, 28, of Bellefontaine, has been charged with rape, a felony of the first degree; and illegal use of minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, a felony of the second degree.
Bellefontaine police detectives began investigating Newsome after a September incident involving a boy. As part of the investigation, the found sexually explicit videos involving minors.
• Dakota Thorpe, 24, of Bellefontaine, has been charged with five counts of rape, felonies of the first degree, for alleged sex acts involving a girl January, 2014. and December, 2015.
The victim told her mother of the incidents after during a talk about good touching and bad touching.
Logan County Sheriff’s detectives investigated the allegations.
Other indictments named:
• Jerry L. Jackson, 50, of Dayton: felonious assault, a felony of the second degree; and domestic violence, a felony of the third degree;
• Caleb Jacobs, 26, of Bellefontaine: two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, felonies of the fourth degree; aggravated trafficking in drugs, a felony of the third degree; and aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree;
• Eric S. Oberly, 34, of Bellefontaine: misdemeanor petty theft; four counts of theft, felonies of the fifth degree; and misdemeanor unauthorized use of a vehicle;
• Ryan J. Parmer, 27, at large: aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree; aggravated trafficking in drugs, a felony of the fourth degree; attempted trafficking in a controlled substance analog, a felony of the second degree; attempted aggravated trafficking in drugs, a felony of the third degree; and counterfeiting, a felony of the fourth degree;
• Andrew B. Dawson, 26, of Marysville: misdemeanor domestic violence; two counts of burglary, felonies of the second degree; two counts of trespass in a habitation, felonies of the fourth degree; attempted grand theft of a motor vehicle, a felony of the fifth degree; and grand theft of a motor vehicle, a felony of the fourth degree;
• John C. Lamson, 33, of Bellefontaine: improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a felony of the fourth degree;
• Tremayne Wilson, 20, of Bellefontaine: aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the second degree; and aggravated trafficking in drugs, a felony of the second degree;
• Calvin L. Davis Jr., 55, of Bellefontaine: three counts of Medicaid fraud, felonies of the fourth degree; and petty theft, a misdemeanor of the first degree;
• Derrick D. Williams, 36, of Lakeview: domestic violence, a felony of the third degree;
• Levi M. Close, 20, of Cable: grand theft of a motor vehicle, a felony of the fourth degree;
• Steven J. Zirkle, 60, of Lakeview: felonious assault, a felony of the second degree; two counts of menacing by stalking, felonies of the fourth degree; and misdemeanor domestic violence;
• Jeremy L. Williams, 43, of Lima: improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a felony of the fourth degree; possession of cocaine, a felony of the fifth degree; and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree;
• Ashley K. Hurless, 31, of Somerset, Ky.: illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, a felony of the third degree; possessing criminal tools, a felony of the fifth degree; and possessing drug abuse instruments, a misdemeanor of the second degree;
• Anthony S.M. Schubert, 25 of Cincinnati: improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a felony of the fourth degree;
• Michael D. Bean-Breaston II, 24, at large: aggravated burglary, a felony of the first degree; felonious assault, a felony of the second degree; and misdemeanor intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness in a criminal case;
• Joseph Ward, 33, of Bellefontaine: domestic violence, a felony of the third degree; aggravated burglary, a felony of the first degree; and two counts of menacing by stalking, felonies of the fourth degree;
• Jerome L. Gunn, 39, of Lima: aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree; and
• Kirk R. Morris, 52, of Oakwood: grand theft of a motor vehicle, a felony of the fourth degree.