Two local man face charges in a theft ring that stole pickup trucks, guns and cash according to indictments handed up this week by a Logan County grand jury.
Brandon A. M. Risner, 30, currently incarcerated in Lorain Correctional Institution, faces more than 60 charges, while Tyler A. Queen, 27, of 717 Euclid St., faces eight charges.
Risner is charged with engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a felony of the second degree; burglary, a felony of the second degree; theft from a person in a protected class, a felony of the third degree; safecracking, a felony of the fourth degree; attempted safecracking, a felony of the fifth degree; vandalism, a felony of the fifth degree; two counts of theft, felonies of the fourth degree; 28 counts of theft, felonies of the fifth degree; having weapons while under disability, a felony of the third degree; five counts of breaking and entering, felonies of the fifth degree; five counts of grand theft of a motor vehicle, felonies of the fourth degree; three counts of receiving stolen property, felonies of the fifth degree; two counts of grand theft, felonies of the fourth degree; two counts of attempted grand theft of a motor vehicle, felonies of the fifth degree; three counts of possessing criminal tools, felonies of the fifth degree; misdemeanor criminal damaging or endangering; three misdemeanor counts of petty theft; misdemeanor tampering with records;
Queen is charged with five counts of receiving stolen property, felonies of the fifth degree; having weapons while under disability, a felony of the third degree; illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto grounds of a specified governmental facility, a felony of the third degree; and possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree.
The Logan County Prosecutor’s Office is taking the lead in the case which includes alleged crimes locally and in Auglaize, Darke and Shelby counties.
Benjamin Logan Local School District was one of the victims when Risner allegedly caused $13,000 in damage to school property and stole a Ford F250 pickup truck and approximately $20,000 in tools Aug. 2.
Authorities have traced Risner’s ongoing pattern of criminal activity to July 23 or 24. He allegedly broke into a detached garage in Versailles and stole a purse containing the victim’s identification, credit/debit cars and checks. The purse was in his possession when he was arrested Sept. 9.
On July 27, authorities say he traveled to Shelby County and stole an all-terrain vehicle which was recovered at Queen’s home on Aug. 8.
Between July 28 and Aug. 7, prosecutors believe Risner committed multiple break-ins and thefts throughout Logan County stealing tools and ATVs.
On July 30 in Auglaize County, he allegedly broke into a car dealership stealing a pickup truck and vehicle dolly, two guns, 19 car titles, car keys and computer site login and password information.
He reportedly used the pickup and dolly to steal other vehicles and ATVs.
He later used the login information to purchase two vehicles totaling more than $100,000 in value through an online vehicle auction site.
Sometime between Aug. 1 and 7, he allegedly burgled his step-grandfather’s Logan County home and stole cash, an equity check and banks checks from a safe.
Prosecutors report he was returned to prison after his arrest as he was on post release control.
State prison records show he was released from prison on Sept. 16, 2019, after serving a year on an escape conviction in Logan County. His criminal record in here dates back to 2009, and includes convictions for breaking and entering, theft, safecracking and felonious assault.
Queen was arrested after detectives of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office followed Risner to Queen’s residence on Aug. 8. There, they found Queen in the process of spray painting parts of a stolen ATV.
A significant amount of stole property was recovered including the stolen Benjamin Logan pickup and tools as well as tools and equipment from other victims.
Queen is currently lodged in the Logan County Jail.
Attempted murder case renewed
A 2019 attempted murder case dropped last year over speedy trial concerns has been renewed after the grand jury issued a new indictment.
Devon L. DeArmond, 20, of Urbana, again faces charges of attempted murder, a felony of the first degree; aggravated robbery, a felony of the first degree; felonious assault, a felony of the second degree; and tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree.
A codefendant, Josue Aldrete, 21, pleaded guilty to two counts of felonious assault in September and was sentenced to a prison of four to six years.
He is in the custody of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections awaiting a facility assignment.
The pair were charged in connection with a Dec. 10, 2019, stabbing in West Liberty’s Lions Park.
They reportedly met with two Belle Center men to purchase marijuana and stabbed both in a robbery attempt.
Two men, ages 26 and 20 at the time, sustained serious injuries and were hospitalized as a result of the incident.
They were reportedly able to speak with officers of the West Liberty Police Department on the night of the stabbing and provide information which led to the arrest of the Aldrete and DeArmond.
The suspects were arrested days apart. Aldrete was taken into custody Dec. 11, 2019, and DeArmond was apprehended Dec. 13 at a residence on Henry Street in Urbana.
Officers of the Urbana Police Department, and detectives from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation.
DeArmond is currently lodged in jail on the most recent indictment.
More rape victims come forward
More victims have come forward leading prosecutors to add additional charges to a pending rape case.
Michael T. Elliott, 48, who has been lodged in jail since his Aug. 24 arrest now faces four counts of rape, felonies of the first degree, one for each of the new victims.
He was originally arrested for allegedly raping a 60-year-old rural Bellefontaine woman in his home.
A 13-count indictment came within weeks of his arrest for that victim and another victim.
That indictment charged him with rape, a felony of the first degree with gun specification; rape, a felony of the first degree; two counts of menacing by stalking, felonies of the fourth degree, one with a gun specification; two counts of domestic violence, felonies of the third degree; having weapons while under disability, a felony of the third degree; felonious assault, a felony of the second degree with gun specification; felonious assault, a felony of the second degree; intimidation of an attorney, victim or witness in a criminal case, a felony of the third degree with gun specification; and three counts of violating a protection order, felonies of the fifth degree.
The attacks involving the six victims date back to 1996. Prosecutors can’t go back any further due to statute of limitations on filing rape charges.
According to authorities, Elliot developed romantic relationships with the victims. The two victims in the early indictment alleged similar abuse at the hands of the defendent.
He allegedly strangled both into unconsciousness and sexually assaulted women.
In the August case, there were firearms in the proximity of the attack, according to the victim. He also allegedly threatened to burn her home to the ground if she told anyone of the attack.
The woman sought treatment for injuries to her face and back at Mary Rutan Hospital and officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department talked with her there.
Elliott has a prior felony drug conviction.
Others charged in indictments include:
• Ernest Harber, 31, at large: menacing by stalking, a felony of the fourth degree; and assault, a felony of the fourth degree;
• Steven A. Manahan, 42, of Dayton: aggravated burglary, a felony of the first degree; and burglary, a felony of the fourth degree;
• Anthony D. Gansheimer, 35, of Russells Point: two counts of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, felonies of the fourth degree;
• Austin T. Miller, 25, of Raymond: having weapons while under disability, a felony of the third degree; improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation or a school safety zone, a felony of the second degree; failure to register, a felony of the fourth degree; and misdemeanor inducing panic;
• Michael L. Miller Jr., 45, of Bellefontaine: receiving stolen property, a felony of the fifth degree;
• Coty L. Cooper, 25, of New Carlisle: improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a felony of the fourth degree; and carrying a concealed weapon, a felony of the fourth degree;
• Derrek M. Driscol, 29, of Bellefontaine: two counts of aggravated possession of drugs, felonies of the third degree; and possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree;
• T’Challa Singleton, 29, of Lima: possession of cocaine, a felony of the first degree; tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree; and aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree;
• Roger L. West Jr., 41, of West Liberty: aggravated trafficking in drugs, a felony of the third degree; aggravated trafficking in drugs, a felony of the fourth degree; and aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the second degree;
• Austin J. Herron, 31, of West Liberty: aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree;
• Michael T. Lewis, 31, of Fairborn: aggravated trafficking in drugs, a felony of the second degree;
• Travis E. Seitz, 33, of Fairborn: aggravated trafficking in drugs, a felony of the second degree; and misdemeanor failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer;
• Dylan R. Kossel, 26, of Bellefontaine: vandalism, a felony of the fifth degree;
• Mathew E. Wenger, 30, of Bellefontaine: menacing by stalking, a felony of the fourth degree; and
• Timothy A. Brown, 40, of Van Wert: failure to stop after an accident, a felony of the fourth degree.