Chesy man accused of sex crimes

Six charges involve underage children

Staff

Published Monday, January 5, 2009

A Chesapeake man accused of multiple counts of sex crimes involving children was one of several people arraigned Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Mark E. Thompson, 23, of 440 Rockwood Ave., Chesapeake, was arraigned on two counts of first-degree rape and one count of gross sexual imposition involving a girl under the age of 13, one count of assault and one count of gross sexual imposition involving another girl under the age of 13 and one count of gross sexual imposition involving an underage boy.

He entered pleas of both not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity through his attorney, Philip Heald. Judge Charles Cooper ordered a mental evaluation to be conducted by Shawnee Forensics Center. Cooper set bond at $300,000.

Also, Garland Sharp, 50, of 6802 County Road 4, Pedro, was arraigned on one count of felonious assault. He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Warren Morford. Cooper set bond at $50,000 cash and ordered Sharp to return to court Jan. 14 for a pretrial conference.

Jerad D. Snead, 27, of 602 Lane St., Coal Grove, was arraigned on one count of resisting arrest and on an allegation that he violated his community controlled sanctions, also known as probation. He pleaded not guilty through Morford, who is also his attorney. Cooper set bond at $10,000 cash or surety on the resisting arrest charge and scheduled a pretrial conference for Wednesday.

Three men indicted in connection with a string of break-ins and burglaries in the Kitts Hill area were also arraigned Wednesday.

Burnal Aldridge, 29, of 1923 S. Fourth St., Ironton, was arraigned on two counts of burglary, three counts of theft, two counts of breaking and entering and one count each of possession of criminal tools and attempt to commit burglary. He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Mike Davenport. Cooper set bond at $250,000 and scheduled a Jan. 14 pretrial conference.

Willis D. Cochran II, 22, of 425 Township Road 336, Ironton, was arraigned on one count of complicity to burglary. He pleaded guilty through his attorney, Warren Morford. Cooper set bond at $100,000 cash or surety and ordered him to return to court Jan. 14 as well for his pretrial conference.

Larry Delawder, 24, of 909 1/2 Rear N. Second St., Ironton, was arraigned on two counts of attempt to commit burglary. He pleaded not guilty through his attorney, Carol Jean Hampton. Cooper set bond at $100,000 cash or $35,000 property and told him to return to court on Jan. 14 for his pretrial conference.

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