Douglas Calhoun, 60, of Russell, Ky., appeared in Ironton Municipal Court Thursday to face charges of theft by deception, a third-degree felony.

His attorney, Steve Rodeheffer, motioned to waive the preliminary hearing. The case will now be brought before the County Grand Jury and handled in the Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Calhoun was arrested May 18 for allegedly taking an undisclosed amount of money from the now-defunct SSP Credit Union while he was working there as treasurer. If convicted he could receive a 1- to 5-year prison sentence.

Last week, the Ohio Department of Commerce declared the financial institution &uot;insolvent and unsafe&uot; and authorized American Share Insurance to liquidate the company.

Calhoun was released last week on a $100,000 cash bond. Rodeheffer had no comment on the case.

Also in court Thursday, Kenneth R. Smith and his attorney Philip Heald waived the preliminary hearing.

Smith is charged with aggravated robbery of the Speedway gas station, 808 Park Ave., May 27. He allegedly wielded a knife against the clerk and took money from the register.

The charge is a first degree felony. This case was also sent to the grand jury and will be handled in the Common Pleas Court.

Heald asked the court to release Smith on his own recognizance. However, Prosecutor Bob Anderson objected and Judge Clark Collins set bond at $50,000.

Both cases will be heard by the grand jury June 17 and 18. Teresa Moore/The Ironton Tribune