A Defiance County grand jury has returned indictments against 15 persons, according to Prosecutor Morris Murray’s office.
Indicted were:
• Bernard Bates, 83, 1302 Byrnwyck Court, for two counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, each a second-degree felony; and two counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor, each a fourth-degree felony. Authorities allege that from June 23, 2022-Aug. 8, 2022, he created, reproduced, or published materials showing a minor participating or engaging in sexual activity, and also possessed obscene materials that included a minor.
• Pete Bostelman, 54, 942 Wilhelm St., for aggravated trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), a second-degree felony; and OVI, a first-degree misdemeanor. Authorities allege that on Aug. 16 on Defiance’s Clinton Street he operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and during the traffic stop he was found in possession of more than 20 grams of methamphetamine.
• Jordan Hahn, 35, 520 Grover Ave., for burglary, a second-degree felony; and OVI, a first-degree misdemeanor. Authorities allege that on Aug. 3 he operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and was involved in a single-vehicle crash on Defiance-Paulding County Line Road. Following the crash, he allegedly trespassed in a residence on Porter Road to commit a criminal offense.
• Brian King Sr., 43, 431 Walnut St., for aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a third-degree felony.
• Scott Smith, 53, Sherwood, for OVI, a third-degree felony; and aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. The charges allege that on July 20 on The Bend Road in Defiance, Smith operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and was found in possession of methamphetamine. Authorities also allege that Smith has a prior felony OVI conviction.
• Austin Brown, 23, Fort Wayne, for strangulation, a fourth-degree felony; domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor; and endangering children, a first-degree misdemeanor. The indictment alleges that on July 13 at a residence on Hicksville’s Fountain Street he caused, or created, a substantial risk of physical harm to a family or household member by means of strangulation or suffocation. Authorities further allege that Brown caused, or attempted to cause, physical harm to a family or household member in the presence of a juvenile.
• Timothy Canterbury, 27, 1528 Mustang Drive, for possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fourth-degree felony.
• Ulises Chagoyan, 30, 1563 S. Jackson Ave., for two counts of menacing by stalking, each a fourth-degree felony. Authorities allege that from July 24-26 he engaged in a pattern of conduct that caused mental distress to another person and also caused the victim to believe that he would cause that person and the victim’s family serious physical harm.
• Mae Hughes, 26, 653 Washington Ave., for endangering children, a fourth-degree felony. Authorities allege that on Aug. 8 at her residence on Washington Avenue in Defiance, she violated a duty of care, resulting in a substantial risk to the health or safety of her child. She also has an endangering children conviction, elevating this offense to a felony.
• Dustin Jones, 31, 878 Circle Drive, for assault, a fourth-degree felony; and vandalism, a fifth-degree felony. The indictment alleges that on Aug. 14 he caused, or attempted to cause, physical harm to a law enforcement officer who responded to a 911 call on Hicksville’s East High Street. Authorities further allege that Jones caused damage to a Defiance County Sheriff’s Office cruiser during the incident.
• Paul Lytle, 42, 844 N. Clinton St., for menacing by stalking, a fourth-degree felony. The charge alleges that from July 3-July 5 he engaged in a pattern of conduct that caused mental distress to another person and also caused the victim to believe that he would cause that person and the victim’s family serious physical harm.
• Nicholas Vanhorn, 36, 111 Hill Ave., for trespass in a habitation when a person is present or likely to be present, a fourth-degree felony; and aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. In addition to the drug charge, Vanhorn allegedly trespassed in a residence on Ohio 15 on Aug. 5.
• Dustyn Cantrell, 38, 1015 Schultz St., for theft, a fifth-degree felony. The indictment alleges that from May 31-June 15 he stole property valued at more than $2,000 from B and B Molded Products in Defiance.
• Sarah Jackson, 43, Bryan, for aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony.
• Megan Weldon, 33, Antwerp, for theft, a fifth-degree felony. The charge alleges that from June 30-July 7 she stole more than $1,200 worth of property from Defiance’s Meijer store while employed there.
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