Judge ensures confused defendant understands process

By Cornelia Grace Harrison News-Herald Reporter

CADIZ — The Harrison County Court of Common Pleas began on July 18 with a full day of hearings on the schedule.

Tara Corn was indicted in June on one charge of aggra vated possession of drugs, a felony in the second degree. She appeared via video call from the Stark County Jail. “We were last here on June the sixth for an arraignment,” Judge Shawn Hervey began. “At the arraignment, you indicated that you wished to be appointed an attorney to represent you in these proceedings. Do you remember that?”

Corn said she did remember and said that she was confused about what was going on, saying she had only received a traffic ticket in June. Hervey told her she had been indicted on the drug charge and that

County Court

Criminal/Traffic Violations

• 47 speeding violations, six seat-belt violations, one OVI and one OVI refusal, three driving under suspension, one no-wake zone, one open container, one illegal hunting, four failure to control, two possession of drugs, one fishing without a permission, one dogs at large, one tag/sticker violation, one tinted windows, one loud exhaust, one improper start/ reverse, one hit/skip, one underage consumption, one child endangerment, one tail/license light, one left of center, one improper following distance, and one no operating license.

CIVIL CREDIT NEWS

• July 10 (satisfied date): Plaintiff Capital One Bank (USA) NA vs Defendant John C. Trushel. Cause of action: Money. For: In favor of Plaintiff. had been explained to her at the arriagnment.

• July 10 (satisfied date): Plaintiff Credit Acceptance Corp. vs Defendant Melanie D. Keeton. Cause of action: Money. For: In favor of Plaintiff.

“I mean yeah, for drugs that were in my car,” Corn said, becoming agitated. “Left by a girl who was searched–” Hervey quickly cut her off, “Don’t tell me anything about the case because if you say anything the state can, and probably will, use it against

Twp.

Public Record

Recorder

July 10-14

• Gwendolyn Stewart, dec’d, to Robert L. Stewart, et al, Rumley Twp.

• Mason Family Trust to Frank Joseph Zeroski, et ux, Cadiz Village.

• Capstone Holding Company to John D. Yoder, et al, Green Twp.

• Shugert Harrison Holdings LLC to Oasis Ranch LLC, Athens and Cadiz Twps.

• Harrison Co. Sheriff’s Office to Jodi Mugnaini-Henry, New Rumley Village.

• Ruth A. Blackburn to Troy C. Blackburn, et al, Jewett Village.

• William E. Gilliam Jr., dec’d, to Terri Lynne Gilliam, Hopedale Village.

• Estate of Carl R. Jones to Double Down LLC, Freeport Twp.

• Michael C. Harris, et al, by Sheriff Ronald J. Myers to REO 2023-NR1 LLC, Jewett Village.

• Ellis K. Fulton, et ux, to Joseph R. Kyle, Green Twp.

• Jordan Powell, et al, to Jenna Powell, et al, Franklin Twp.

• Cadiz Volunteer Fire Company to Cadiz Community Improvement Corp., Cadiz Village.

• Thomas Hodkisnon, et ux, to RHDK Investments LLC, Washington you. We’re not here to solve the case today. I just want to make sure you understand what’s going on and the steps to get to a resolution.”

He reviewed the charges with her and shared the potential penalties for the felony two, which includes a license suspension and a mandatory prison sentence. He also explained that his office had not gotten the proper form for appointed counsel. Corn said she never got a form to fill out. Hervey said he would take testimony from Corn that day so the process could begin to appoint an attorney for her.

After going through employment and monetary information, Hervey was satisfied that Corn would qualify for a public defender.

“The best thing we can probably do is … let the public defender’s office start to work on your behalf to get the infor-

• Amanda E. Snyder, dec’d, to Mary A. Hardesty, Shortcreek Twp.

Marriage Applications

• James Todd Dawson, 57, Tippecanoe, and Doris Jean Volk, 60, Tippecanoe.

SHERIFF’S OFFICE

• June 19 – A couple called the sheriff’s office to report that several of their firearms were missing from their home. The couple said they had not seen the firearms in question in roughly three weeks. There were no signs of forced entry and everything in the home was intact. The couple listed four missing guns and were told a report would be sent on to detectives. Several days later, the couple’s daughter called to report she’d found one of the missing guns inside the residence under a sewing machine.

• June 19 – A woman reported witnessing a hit and run at her parent’s residence. A car she believed to be a white Oldsmobile Alero left the roadway, hit the mailbox, then left the scene. She followed the vehicle to a nearby parking lot and took a picture of the suspect and vehicle, but did not engage further.

• June 29 – A Hopedale resident called to report a wagon was missing from her yard. The previous day, two boys had come by and asked if they could have it. She’d declined, but the next day it was mation necessary to see what’s going on. In the meantime, I heard you ask for a reconsideration for bond,” Hervey said. Her bond had been set at $35,000 with a 10-percent option. She has not made bond and said she is unable to make it as she is the only income for herself.

Prosecutor Lauren Knight shared, “The state’s position is that a monetary bond would be appropriate. The defendant’s criminal history is pretty lengthy. Currently, as far as I know, she is still under supervision. … A reduction in the amount, the state would not oppose that.”

Corn said she wasn’t able to hear Knight so Hervey explained for her, “She said she wants a cash bond because you have a bad record. … She’s not sure whether you’re still under supervision, are you?” gone. She wasn’t sure if the boys had taken it and if they had, she just wanted it back with an apology. She knew the two boys by name. The deputy drove past one of the boy’s homes but didn’t see the wagon. He made contact with the other boy’s mother but she said he was sleeping. The deputy said he didn’t think the boy had taken the wagon but he might have an idea of who did. The mother said she would speak to him when he woke up and call the office with any information he had.

Corn said she was on parole, but that she had no holders.

• June 30 – Deputies responded to a domestic dispute call. The woman said her boyfriend was drunk and had taken their child from the residence then returned, left again, but was now back. She had gone to a neighbors to wait for law enforcement. She stated he had pulled her around the house by her hair for no reason. A deputy approached the residence, checking the hood of the vehicle there and finding it was cold to the touch, as he walked up. He made contact with the boyfriend who looked as if he’d just woken up. The child was safe and asleep in their bed. The boyfriend said the woman had gotten up in the middle of the night to vacuum because she was high. He kicked her out of the house and wouldn’t let her back in. The woman declined medical treatment at the scene and she was given a ride to the jail to wait on someone

“Because of those factors,” Hervey said. “And the fact this carries a mandatory prison term, she wants a monetary bond. She said she’s not opposed if I lower the bond.” After gathering some additional information from Corn, Hervey let her speak on her own behalf.

“I’m gonna stay out of trouble,” she said. “I understand that it’s a felony two, I get that, but the evidence is going to be presented, hopefully now by my attorney, will prove my innocence. With that being said, I’m just hoping I can go back to work, take care of my grandma like I was doing before and continue on.” to pick her up since she could not stay at the residence.

Hervey said he would take the bond request under advisement and make a decision by the end of the week. Corn would be notified of any changes and would likely soon be in contact with her attorney.

• July 1 – A call about a potential break-in brought a deputy to Freeport. The caller made the report from her work as her uncle had texted her about someone trying to break into their home. The uncle at the residence said he was in the living room when he heard someone at the sliding glass door. The door was covered with a curtain inside but he could see the silhouette of a person opening it. The uncle made himself known and the door was quickly closed and he heard a person running away. The only description provided was that the suspect was around 5’9”. The incident is one of many that have ocurred at the residence and the family said they will be looking into getting cameras installed soon for their own peace of mind.

• July 1 – A driver traveling on U.S. 250 rear-ended another vehicle when another car made a sudden turn to go down another road. The driver that rear-ended the vehicle was deemed at fault.

• July 2 – A deputy was nearby when a call came in about a prowler looking in the windows of a nursing home. The deputy spoke with the two employees of the home who said there was a male outside the building, walking around and looking in windows. They said he was searching for a specific female employee. While the two got the spe- cific employee, the deputy did a walk around of the building. He found footprints in the heavy dew on the grass but the trail ended at the parking lot. When he spoke with the female employee, she told him that she had been talking to her coworkers when she got a snapchat message from her ex-boyfriend that implied he could see her. When she looked up, he was watching her through the window. She said she heard his truck a few minutes later, just before the deputy arrived, so she assumed he drove away. The nursing home officials wanted the ex trespassed from the property. The deputy could not make contact with the ex at the time.

• July 3 – A deputy running traffic enforcement observed a vehicle commit a marked-lane violation on U.S. 250. The driver admitted he did not have a valid license. The passenger only had a valid driver’s permit. It was discovered the driver had a warrant. He was asked out of the vehicle and complied with a search, which turned up a metal cylinder that the driver said contained meth. During the vehicle search, deputies found a glass pipe with burnt residue. Both driver and passenger were transported to the jail where they could call someone for a ride. The driver was issued a citation for the traffic violation and informed he may be indicted once the cylinder test results came back from the lab.