Defiance County Prosecuting Attorney, Morris J. Murray, has released the following information regarding recent Indictments returned by a Defiance County Grand Jury on October 25, 2023:
Among those indicted were 41-year-old Michael J. Vasko, of Archbold, and 25-year-old James M. Velasquez, of Defiance, for charges of Importuning and Disseminating Matter Harmful to Juveniles.
Michael J. Vasko, age 41, 63 Hawthorn Dr., Archbold, was indicted for Two Counts of Importuning, each a Felony of the Fifth Degree, and One Count of Disseminating Matter Harmful to Juveniles, a Misdemeanor of the First Degree. Authorities allege that on October 22, 2023 and October 23, 2023, in Defiance County, Vasko sent matter that is considered harmful to juveniles to an undercover police officer posing as a fourteen year old female online, and Vasko also solicited the individual to engage in sexual activity and arranged to meet the other person at a local park.
James M. Velasquez, age 25, 609 Grove Ave., Defiance, was indicted for Four Counts of Importuning, each a Felony of the Fifth Degree, and Four Counts of Disseminating Matter Harmful to Juveniles, each a Misdemeanor of the First Degree. Authorities allege that between October 4, 2023, and October 16, 2023, Velasquez sent matter that is considered harmful to juveniles to an undercover police officer posing as a fourteen year old female online, and Velasquez also solicited the individual to engage in sexual activity and arranged to meet the person at a location in Defiance.
Other Indictments Included:
Michael A. Jenkins, age 53, 203 S. Maple St., Defiance, was indicted for Five Counts of Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor or Impaired Person, each a Felony of the Second Degree, and Five Counts of Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor or Impaired Person, each a Felony of the Fourth Degree. Authorities allege that on or about October 2, 2023, in Defiance, Jenkins possessed multiple obscene materials involving minors, and he also brought said materials from another state into the State of Ohio.
Thomas R. Stearns, age 18, 1017 Ottawa Ave., Defiance, was indicted for Two Counts of Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor, each a Felony of the Fourth Degree. Authorities allege that between February 1, 2022 and August 31, 2022, at a residence on First St., in Defiance, Stearns, engaged in sexual conduct with a female juvenile between the ages of thirteen and sixteen.
William L.D. Shumaker, age 45, 14924 State Route 15, Defiance, was indicted for One Count of Failure to Appear as Required by Recognizance, a Felony of the Fourth Degree. Authorities allege that on October 11, 2023, Shumaker failed to appear at the Defiance County Common Pleas Court for a plea hearing, in connection with the commission of a felony, after having been released on a personal recognizance bond.
Austin R. Castillo, age 29, 2250 Royal Oak Dr., Defiance, was indicted for Two Counts of Failure to Appear as Required by Recognizance, each a Felony of the Fourth Degree. Authorities allege that on September 21, 2023, Castillo failed to appear at the Defiance County Common Pleas Court for plea hearings, in connection with the commission of felonies, after having been released on a personal recognizance bond in two cases.
Alysa R. Scott, age 29, 9461 State Route 66, Oakwood, was indicted for Two Counts of Theft, each a Felony of the Fifth Degree. Authorities allege that on September 12, 2023, Scott stole two credit cards.
Amber M. Couts, age 41, 2127 Baltimore Rd., Lot 17, Defiance, was indicted for One Count of Aggravated Possession of Drugs, a Felony of the Fifth Degree. Authorities allege that on July 21, 2023, on Baltimore Rd., in Defiance, Couts was found in possession of Methamphetamine, a Schedule II drug.
Henry W. Butler, age 56, 1391 Milwaukee Ave., Defiance, was indicted for One Count of Possession of Cocaine, a Felony of the Fifth Degree. Authorities allege that on December 1, 2022, at his residence on Milwaukee Ave., in Defiance, Butler was found in possession of Cocaine.
Derrick N. Flores, age 35, 1539 Terrawanda Dr., Defiance, was indicted for One Count of Vandalism, a Felony of the Fifth Degree. Authorities allege that on October 14, 2023, Flores caused serious physical harm to a tomb, monument, gravestone, or memorial, at a cemetery in Defiance.
Matthew A. Leu, age 40, 881 Circle Dr., Defiance, was indicted for One Count of Domestic Violence, a Felony of the Fourth Degree. Authorities allege that on October 19, 2023, at his residence on Circle Dr., in Defiance, Leu caused or attempted to cause physical harm to a family or household member, and he has a prior domestic violence conviction.
John G. Chapman, age 40, Ney, was indicted for One Count of Domestic Violence, a Felony of the Third Degree. Authorities allege that on October 9, 2023, at a residence on E. Main St., in Ney, Chapman caused or attempted to cause physical harm to a family or household member, and he has three prior domestic violence convictions.
C. Keiyah Nicole Marshall, age 22, 666 Middle Ave., Wilmerding, PA, was indicted for One Count of Failure to Comply with an Order or Signal of a Police Officer, a Felony of the Third Degree. Authorities allege that on August 10, 2023, on US 24, in Defiance, Marshall failed to comply with a traffic stop, and she then created a substantial risk of serious physical harm to persons or property in the area, when she lead officers on a high speed pursuit that then entered into the State of Indiana.
Matthew S. Boettcher, age 45, 540 S. Elm St., Waterloo, IN, was indicted for One Count of Aggravated Possession of Drugs, a Felony of the Fifth Degree. Authorities allege that on September 20, 2023, on Pearl St., in Hicksville, Boettcher was found in possession of Methamphetamine, a Schedule II drug.
Daniel J. Stafford, age 40, 205 N. Bryan St., Hicksville, was indicted for One Count of Domestic Violence, a Felony of the Third Degree, and Two Counts of Domestic Violence, each a Misdemeanor of the First Degree. Authorities allege that on October 18, 2023, at his residence on N. Bryan St., in Hicksville, Stafford caused or attempted to cause physical harm to a family or household member, and he has two prior domestic violence convictions. Authorities further allege that on October 5, 2023, at the same location, Stafford also, by threat of force, caused two family or household members to believe that he would cause them imminent physical harm.
Mark J. Yonge Sr., age 65, 909 Holgate Ave., Defiance, was indicted for One Count of Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs, and One Count of Aggravated Possession of Drugs, each a Felony of the Third Degree, as well as One Count of Permitting Drug Abuse, a Felony of the Fifth Degree. Authorities allege that on September 28, 2023, at his residence on Holgate Avenue, in Defiance, Yonge was found in possession of over six grams of Methamphetamine, a Schedule II drug, which was intended for sale. Authorities further allege that Yonge also allowed his residence to be used for the commission of a felony drug abuse offense.
Danielle Nash-Kleinhenn, age 39, 837 Indian Bridge Lane, Defiance, was indicted for One Count of Aggravated Possession of Drugs, a Felony of the Fifth Degree. Authorities allege that on September 28, 2023, at a residence on Holgate Avenue, in Defiance, Nash-Kleinhenn was found in possession of Methamphetamine, a Schedule II drug.
Edwin A. Dalton, age 51, 938 Harrison Ave. Defiance, was indicted for One Count of Telecommunications Harassment, a Felony of the Fifth Degree. Authorities allege that on October 7, 2023, Dalton used a telecommunications device to contact another, whom he had previously been instructed by law enforcement not to contact. Authorities also allege that Dalton has two prior convictions for Telecommunications Harassment, which elevates the level of this offense to a felony of the fifth degree.
Arraignments are scheduled for Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at 9 a.m.