Henry County grand jury returns high-felony indictments, including three in drug operation

NAPOLEON — A Henry County grand jury has returned six first- and second-degree felony indictments against six separate defendants, according to Prosecutor Gwen Howe-Gebers’ office.

Three of them were related to a recent drug investigation involving the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, the DEA, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the Multi-Area Narcotics Unit at 702 East St. in Liberty Center.

Kage Seals, 28, Liberty Center; and Abbigail Barnes, 27, Liberty Center, each were indicted on two counts of trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, first-degree felonies; permitting drug abuse, a fifth-degree felony; and three counts of endangering children, first-degree misdemeanors.

The indictment includes major drug offender and property forfeiture specifications. These include the possibility of forfeiting the home owned by Seals and Barnes in Liberty Center as well as a gun, according to Howe-Gebers.

A press release issued by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office last month noted that Seals was arrested following the execution of a search warrant at his residence at 702 East St. in Liberty Center. More than 1,000 pills suspected to be fentanyl were confiscated along with a loaded semi-auto pistol, cash and two vehicles.

Also indicted on a related charge was Wyatt Whalen, 22, 404 Douglas St., Defiance, for complicity in the commission of an offense with a major drug offender specification, and engaging in a patter of corrupt activity, each a first-degree felony.

Whalen also has pleaded not guilty in Defiance County Common Pleas Court to possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for April 18.

Each of the above three defendants was being held Monday in the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio.

Also indicted were:

• Tiffany Hernandez, 33, Liberty Center, for felonious assault, a second-degree felony; and domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony. She allegedly struck another person with a beer bottle or beer can during a domestic incident on Feb. 26, causing injury.

• Caleb Zamora, 20, Napoleon, for felonious assault, a second-degree felony; domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor; and criminal damaging or endangering, a second-degree misdemeanor. He allegedly assaulted a brother during a domestic fight on March 13.

• Aloha Vance, 23, Napoleon, for two counts of aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), second- and fifth-degree felonies; and breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony.

• Timothy Smith, 26, Napoleon, for two counts of strangulation, third- and fifth-degree felonies; domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor; and menacing, a fourth-degree felony.

• Michael De Luca, 21, Toledo, for two counts of strangulation, third- and fifth-degree felonies.

• Suzette Hamlin, 67, Archbold, for aggravated vehicular assault, a third-degree felony; and OVI, a first-degree misdemeanor. The charge alleges that she caused a traffic crash on March 15 at U.S. 6 and Henry County Road 19 when she failed to yield for another vehicle, causing non life-threatening injury to the other driver. Hamlin allegedly was under the influence while operating the vehicle.

• Mark Smith, 56, Lyons, assault, a fourth-degree felony; inducing panic, a fourth-degree felony; disturbing a lawful meeting, a fourth-degree misdemeanor; and resisting arrest, a first-degree misdemeanor. The charges allege that during a hearing in Napoleon Municipal Court on March 18 he caused a disturbance in which he “assaulted an officer trying to calm him down,” Howe-Gebers explained.

• Montize Carter, 27, Napoleon, for obstructing justice, a fifth-degree felony.

• Nicholas Hassen, 24, Swanton, for importuning and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, each a fifth-degree felony.