Victim to be evaluated for competency to take oath

The trial of a man accused of more than 50 counts of rape will be rescheduled.

Charles A. Ferris, 30, of 418 Second Ave., appeared in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday and waived his right to a speedy trial.

The trial, originally set for Sept. 26, has not yet been rescheduled. Attorney Warren Morford recently joined Jason Smith as co-counsel for the case and asked the judge for more time to review the evidence.

Smith and Morford also offered a motion that the victim in the case, who is now 9 years old, undergo an evaluation with Judge Charles Cooper to determine competency to take the oath in court. Prosecuting attorney Brigham Anderson agreed with the motion as “an abundance of caution.”

Cooper said a transcript would be made of the interview but sealed until such time that it would be needed.

Ferris is charged with 54 counts of first-degree rape of a child. The dates included in his indictment range from October 2008, when the alleged victim was 2 years old, to June of this year, listing the alleged victim as 9 years old.

In other cases:

• Keyen McJimpson, 39, of 154 County Road 450, South Point, pleaded guilty to a third-degree count of trafficking in heroin. One first- and three third-degree counts of the same charge were dismissed.

Cooper sentenced the man to three years in prison and ordered him to forfeit the $489 in cash that was in his possession at the time of his arrest.

• Joseph Swanson, 44, of Huntington and Tennessee, pleaded guilty to fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug abuse instruments. Cooper sentenced the man to four years community control sanctions under intensive supervised probation and a six-month driver’s license suspension.

• Lisa Layne, 45, of 311 1/2 Spruce St. Apt. 2, Ironton, pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree and misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor DUI. Cooper sentenced the woman to four years CCS/ISP and a one-year driver’s license suspension. The woman must also undergo an evaluation at Family Guidance and follow whatever plan they set for her.

• Teresa Willis, 45, of 593 County Road 119, Ironton, was arraigned on a count of third-degree unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, to which she pleaded not guilty. Cooper continued bond from a lower court and added a $50,000 own-recognizance bond and a retraining order for the victim. A pretrial was set for Sept. 28.

• Kelli Jo Runyon, 30, of 131 Zoar Hill Road, Coal Grove, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of assault. A first-degree kidnapping charge was dismissed.

Cooper sentenced the woman to 180 days in jail with 120 days suspended, and three years probation.

• Dwayne Gue, 20, of 105 Private Drive 11202, Chesapeake, pleaded guilty to third-degree failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, fifth-degree and obstructing official business. Cooper ordered a presentence investigation and set sentencing for Oct. 5.

• Robert Hoke, 24, of 85 Township Road 1013, South Point. Pleaded guilty to an amended count of third-degree burglary. Cooper set sentencing for Sept. 21 and modified his bond to $50,000 OR and GPS monitoring.

• Scott Erickson, 41, of 243 Lafayette Lane, Franklin Furnace, pleaded guilty to failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer. Retired judge Richard Walton sentenced the man to 270 days in jail, suspended, 200 hours community service and three years probation.

• Scott Wilson, 46, of 306 Washington St., Coal Grove, pleaded guilty to three fourth-degree counts of trafficking in heroin. Walton ordered a PSI and set sentencing for Sept. 21.

• Leo Boggs, 53, of 121 Brammer Drive, Coal Grove, was sentenced to six months in prison and a six-month driver’s license suspension. He previously pleaded guilty to fifth-degree trafficking in drugs.

• Kandas Johnson, 32, of 401 44th St., Ashland, admitted CCS violations and was sentenced to 213 days in prison.

• John Moore, 33, of 5185 State Route 775, Proctorville, was arraigned on a bill of information of third-degree failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, to which he pleaded guilty. Walton sentenced the man to 15 months in prison.

• Julie Hall, 39, of 8711 Ice Dam Road, Catlettsburg, Kentucky, admitted CCS violations and was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

• Donna Sanchez, 31, of 508 Pollard Road, Ashland, admitted CCS violations and was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

• Donald Ross Jr., 31, of 1308 S. Sixth St., Ironton, admitted CCS violations and was sentenced to 12 months in prison.