The Lawrence County Grand Jury returned indictments this month charging 14 county residents for non-payment of child support.

Saturday, July 29, 2000

The Lawrence County Grand Jury returned indictments this month charging 14 county residents for non-payment of child support.

Lawrence County Prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr. said the grand jury will keep the true bills secret until court papers are served on the individuals.

Each indictment levies a felony and misdemeanor criminal non-support charge against the individuals, and some were multiple cases, Collier said.

Although the cases must still be heard in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court, grand jurors heard testimony that outlined the non-payment of child support for at least 26 weeks out of 104 consecutive weeks, he said.

Buddy Martin, director of Lawrence County Department of Job and Family Services and the Child Support Enforcement Agency, called the indictments good news for the children owed the support payments.

An indictment makes the collection process more forceful because it means the cases go to court, Martin said.

It also means the enforcement department has been working hard, he added.

"This has nothing to do with the county government or the state government," Martin said. "It’s about the kids."

The number of people under indictment is not precedent-setting but it is a significant number, CSEA supervisor Gene Myers said.

"We’re pretty excited about it because it reflects a lot of work and means children have a better chance of getting their support," Myers said.

Most of the cases heard by the grand jury were the more difficult cases – those where the CSEA has exhausted most every other means of collection, he said.

The CSEA will ask the judge for payment from each individual once the cases go to court, Myers said.

The Lawrence County Grand Jury indicted six other individuals during its session July 19-21. They were:

– Jeffrey A. Blanton, 39, 840 Township Road 196 W, Pedro: on two counts of violating a protection order or consent agreement, fifth-degree felony.

– Charles J. McGuire, 43, of 13189 Ohio 35, West Jeffersonville: on three counts of grand theft, fourth-degree felony. The alleged theft occurred at Value City Department Store, according to the indictment.

– Crystal G. Lewis, 18, of 605 S. 10th St., Ironton: on two counts of felonious assault, second-degree felony.

– Harold W. Flick, 51, of 304 S. Fourth St., Ironton: on one count of breaking and entering, fifth-degree felony.

– Christopher Frazier, 20, of 2217 N. Sixth St., Ironton: on two counts of breaking and entering, fifth-degree felony, and one count of theft, fifth-degree felony.

– Paula Wills, 716 Wyanoke St., Ironton: on one count of theft, fourth-degree felony.