Accused rapist pleads not guilty to 1999 crimes

A Chesapeake man pleaded not guilty this week to sex crimes with a minor in the courtroom of Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Andy Ballard.

Zane L. Curry, 30, of 405 2nd Ave., Chesapeake, pleaded not guilty to four counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, all third-degree felonies.

According to the indictment, Curry, on or about May 1, 2018 to Dec. 31, 2018, in  Lawrence County, being 18 years of age or older, did engage in sexual conduct with a minor, not the spouse of the said Curry, when Curry knew that the minor was 13 years of age or older, but was less than 16 years of age, or being reckless in that regard, with Curry being 10 or more years older than the minor.

Ballard set bond in the case at $25,000 cash or surety and $50,000 OR. Pretrial was set for March 27.

In another case, Frank Thacker, 55, of 203 Township Road 1034, South Point, previously pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, all first-degree felonies, kidnapping, also a first-degree felony, and abduction, a felony of the third-degree, stemming from a December 1999 case.

Last year, Thacker was sentenced to and is currently serving 27 years in prison for a February 2018 case involving three counts of rape, all first-degree felonies, one count of burglary, a second-degree felony, and two counts of kidnapping, also both second-degree felonies. The 1999 case was cold until DNA from Thacker obtained from last year’s case was found to be a match.

Ballard set a pretrial for May 15, where he will be given a final offer. If he denies that final offer, trial is set for May 28-31.

In other cases:

• Walter Brewer II, 53, of 1508 County Road 1, Chesapeake, pleaded not guilty to improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony, possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony, and possession of heroin, also a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $5,000 cash or surety and $25,000 OR. Pretrial was set for March 20.

• Jennifer Chafin, 26, of 171 Tanya Lane, Shelby, North Carolina, pleaded not guilty to aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $15,000 OR. Pretrial was set for April 10.

• Tiffany Harbour, of 3 Simpson Drive, Huntington, West Virginia, pleaded not guilty to two counts of trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine, Suboxone), one third-degree and one fifth-degree felony, and receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony. In another case, she pleaded not guilty to aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a third-degree felony, and improperly handling of firearms, a fourth-degree felony. Ballard set bond in both cases at $25,000 OR and placed her on GPS monitoring. Pretrial for both cases was set for April 24.

• William Thomas, 42, of 614 Hecla St., Ironton, admitted community-controlled sanctions (CCS) violations. Ballard sentenced him to one year in prison with credit for eight months served.

• Eugene Likens, 34, listed as homeless, South Point, pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and vandalism, a fifth-degree felony. In another case, he pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and possession of heroin, both fifth-degree felonies. Ballard sentenced him to a total of four years in prison.

• Christopher Adkins, 34, of 784 County Road 141, Apt. 402, Proctorville, pleaded not guilty to felonious assault, a second-degree felony, having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, receiving stolen property, also a fourth-degree felony, and resisting arrest, a second-degree misdemeanor. Ballard set bond at $100,000 OR and placed him on GPS monitoring. Pretrial was set for April 17, where he will be given a final offer. If he rejects that final offer, trial is set for April 29.

• Ricky Bare, 61, of Ironton, admitted CCS violations. Ballard extended his CCS for one year.

• Angela Depriest, 48, of 111 Township Road 1101 E., South Point, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony. She was eligible for intervention in lieu of conviction, and Ballard ordered her to complete treatment at Mended Reeds and abstain from using drugs or alcohol for one year.

• Ryan Goodpastor, 20, of 96 Township Road 1611, Lot 14D, Proctorville, pleaded not guilty to aggravated possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. Ballard set bond at $2,500 cash or surety and $15,000 OR. Pretrial was set for April 10.

• James King, 35, of 271 County Road 1, Lot 48, South Point, previously pleaded not guilty to possession of drugs (methamphetamine), a fifth-degree felony. He failed his drug screen and Ballard increased bond to $50,000 cash or surety and $100,000 OR.

• Billy Layman, 50, of 10857 County Road 1, Chesapeake, previously pleaded not guilty to operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, a third-degree felony. Ballard set a pretrial for May 8, where a final offer will be given. If he rejects that final offer, trial is set for May 23.

• Alison Lewis, 36, of 66 Private Drive 545, Ironton, pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs (methamphetamine), all fourth-degree felonies. Ballard sentenced her to a total of 60 months in prison with credit for 64 days served.

• Jason Thomas, 37, of Ironton, admitted CCS violations. Ballard set sentencing for April 17.

• Gerrica Woodyard, 25, of Chesapeake, admitted CCS violations. Ballard continued her CCS and ordered her to complete STAR.

Cases from Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Christen Finley’s court will be in the Weekend Edition of The Tribune.

 

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