Changes in Ohio’s juvenile crime laws will send a Proctorville teen to an adult court to answer for his part in the alleged armed robbery of a cab driver earlier this year.

Saturday, April 01, 2000

Changes in Ohio’s juvenile crime laws will send a Proctorville teen to an adult court to answer for his part in the alleged armed robbery of a cab driver earlier this year.

The felony charge was one of several indictments returned by the Lawrence County Grand Jury Friday.

Jonathan Varney, 17, 181 Township Road 1090, Proctorville, will face an aggravated robbery with a firearm specification charge, county prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr. said.

About two months ago, Varney and Roger W. Smith Jr., 19, Township Road 1169, Proctorville, allegedly summoned a cab in eastern Lawrence County, then robbed the driver at gunpoint, Collier said.

Smith faces the same charge as Varney – aggravated robbery with firearm specification, a first-degree felony.

New state juvenile laws require Varney be considered an adult in court because of his age and the type of offense, Collier said.

Also Friday, four Detroit, Mich., men were indicted on felony drug charges.

The grand jury charged Antoine Poole, 25, with possession of crack cocaine, firearm specification, first-degree felony; preparation of drugs for sale, fourth-degree felony; possessing a weapon while under disability, fifth-degree felony; and possession of criminal tools, fifth-degree felony.

Co-defendants Richard Whittingham, 30, Marcus Davis, 22, and Johnnie Ewings, 24, were each charged with complicity of preparation of drugs for sale, fourth-degree felony; and complicity to possession of crack cocaine, first-degree felony.

Chesapeake police arrested the four shortly after a Feb. 22 traffic stop in the village.

Sgt. Steve Sisler pulled over a car driven by Poole for a speeding violation. The officer noticed a smell of alcohol and marijuana, then called in an Ironton Police Department police dog.

Other departments, and the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, became involved and confiscated drugs from the car and 7.02 grams of crack cocaine, a firearm and scales found in the suspects’ hotel room.

The four men will face charges stemming from the indictments in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

After two days of hearing testimony, the grand jury returned other indictments Friday:

– Prudence Q. Woolfolk, 31, 925 Ninth St., No. 12, Huntington, W.Va.: Charged with possession of crack cocaine, fourth-degree felony.

– Arness Steve Jackson, 38, 123 Township Road 1426, South Point: Charged with possession of marijuana, third-degree felony.

– Jason Scott Preston, 24, 801 County Road 6, Ironton: Charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, fifth offense within the last six years, fourth-degree felony; and operating a motor vehicle without a valid license, first-degree misdemeanor.

– Joseph Lewis, 25, Route 2, Proctorville: Charged with breaking and entering and attempt to commit theft of a motor vehicle, fifth-degree felonies.

– Bryan Montroso, 32, Route 2, Proctorville: Charged with breaking and entering and attempt to commit theft of a motor vehicle, fifth-degree felonies. (Co-defendant with Lewis.)

– Teddy M. May, 23, 74 Township Road 245A, Pedro: Charged with receiving stolen property, fourth-degree felony.

– Michael Ferris, 22, 121 Township Road 1502, Chesapeake: Charged with breaking and entering, fifth-degree felony.

– Douglas Wayne Smith, 19, 825 Pine Wood Drive, Dunbar, W.Va.: Charged with illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordinance in a school safety zone, fifth-degree felony. The incident occurred at the South Point High School parking lot.

– Tessa L. Blankenship, 35, 414 Mulberry St., Ironton: Charged with two counts sexual battery, third-degree felonies; corruption of another with drugs, first-degree felony; and corruption of another with drugs, second-degree felony. Incidents occurred Feb. 1 to March 6.