Man pleads insanity to gross sexual imposition

South Point resident accused of touching 9-year-old girl

By Teresa Moore | The Tribune

Published Monday, August 10, 2009

A man accused of inappropriately touching a 9-year-old girl and taking pictures of her genitalia with his cellular telephone was arraigned Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Charles E. Rucker, 56, of 362 Township Road 1026, South Point, was arraigned on one count of pandering obscenity involving a minor and one count of gross sexual imposition.

His attorney, David Reid Dillon, entered pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity.

Assistant Lawrence County Prosecutor Mack Anderson asked for a $100,000 bond but Dillon asked that bail be set low enough that Rucker has a chance to make bond and get out of jail.

“He needs to get out of jail so he can get his SSI check and find a place to stay,” Dillon explained. He said Rucker could find a place to live that does not allow him contact with the victim.

Judge Charles Cooper set bond at the requested $100,000 and ordered a mental competency evaluation for Rucker.

Robert S. Armstrong, 36, of 644 Township Road 212N, Willow Wood, was arraigned on a charge of failing to notify authorities of his change of address.

He is a registered sex offender and is required to report his relocations to the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office.

Armstrong pleaded not guilty through Mike Gleichauf, who was standing in for Armstrong’s attorney, Luke Styer. Cooper set bond at $10,000 cash or surety or $20,000 property and scheduled an Aug. 19 pretrial conference.

Robert Helms, 41, whose last known address was 69 Township Road 1026, South Point, was also arraigned on a charge of failure to provide a change of address to authorities. He is also a registered sex offender.

Armstrong pleaded not guilty through Gleichauf, who is also his attorney. Cooper set bond at $10,000 cash and ordered a pretrial conference for this Wednesday.

Sparkle L. Benicker, 27, of Ironton, was arraigned on one count of felony grand theft and one count of misdemeanor theft. She pleaded not guilty through Gleichauf, who is also her attorney.

Cooper set bond at $10,000 surety or property and scheduled an Aug. 19 pretrial. Benicker is accused of stealing a gun and a necklace.

Thomas B. Butler, 45, of 549 Township Road 1233, Proctorville, was arraigned on three counts of rape and three counts of sexual battery. He pleaded not guilty through Gleichauf, who was standing in for attorney Roger Smith.

If he is convicted of the rape charges, which are first-degree felonies, Butler could face life in prison.

If he is found guilty of the less charges he could be sent to prison for up to five years. Cooper set bond at $100,000 cash or surety and ordered him to refrain from going around his victim if he makes bond. The victim was a 17 year old girl.

Kyle A. Davidson, 25, of 1173 County Road 139, South Point, was arraigned on charges of breaking and entering, theft and aggravated robbery with a firearm specification, meaning a gun was allegedly used when he committed the alleged robbery.

He pleaded guilty for Gleichauf, who was standing in for attorney Luke Styer. Cooper set bond at $100,000 cash and ordered Davidson to stay away from his victim if he makes bond. Davidson must return to court Aug. 19 for a pretrial conference.

Bret A. Dement, 20, of 262 Township Road 1234, Proctorville, was arraigned on one count of disrupting a public service and two counts of breaking and entering. He pleaded not guilty through Gleichauf, who is also his attorney.

Cooper set bond at $20,000 cash, surety or property and scheduled an Aug. 19 pretrial conference.

Tamara Grubb, 23, of 114B Freeman Court, South Point, was arraigned on one count of burglary and two counts of forgery. She pleaded not guilty through Gleichauf, who asked for a reasonable bond.

“The charges are serious but she just found out she’s pregnant,” Gleichauf explained. “She is having contractions.”

Cooper set bond at $50,000 cash or surety but allowed her to post 10 percent. Grubb must return to court Aug. 19 for a pretrial conference and must stay away from her victim.

Andrea M. Vaughn, 21, of 103 Fourth St., E., South Point, was arraigned on one count of theft. She pleaded not guilty through Gleichauf, who is also her attorney.

Cooper set bond at $20,000 cash or property and told Vaughn to return to court Aug. 19 for a pretrial conference.

Lorrie Gilmore, of Huntington, W.Va., was arraigned on one count of theft and one count of tampering with evidence.

She pleaded not guilty. Cooper allowed a bond set in a lower court to continue and scheduled an Aug. 19 pretrial conference.

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