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STEUBENVILLE -- A Jefferson County grand jury has indicted a former health district commissioner on a charge she, her family or a business associate unlawfully benefited from her position.
Nicole Balakos, of 238 Anthony Drive, Wintersville, was indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury Wednesday on a felony count of having an unlawful interest in a public contract. Seven other indictments were returned against county residents on charges ranging from raping a child and domestic violence to drugs and endangering children.
The grand jury ordered Balakos, 53, to stand trial on charges she used "the authority or influence of her office to secure authorization of (a) public contract in which she, a member of her family or any of her business associates had an interest" beginning in 2019.
She was terminated as health commissioner in September 2020.
The case is being prosecuted by the Ohio Attorney General's Special Prosecution Section. A spokesman Wednesday afternoon would say only that the case had been investigated by the Ohio Ethics Commission.
"We don't have any comment at this point beyond the indictment," he said.
Balakos could not be reached for comment.
She's scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. March 9.
Jefferson County Prosecutor Jane Hanlin reported indictments also were returned against:
* John Edward Martin of 161 Canton Road, Wintersville, two counts of raping a minor.
The felony indictment charges Martin, 34, with engaging in sexual conduct with a juvenile during a period of nearly four years.
* Quincy Vaughn Dudley, 51, of 1611 Ridge Ave., Steubenville, possession of drugs and two counts of trafficking drugs, both felonies.
The three-count indictment alleges Dudley had sold cocaine to a confidential informant on Jan. 9 and had cocaine in his possession three days later when the Jefferson County Drug Task Force raided his home.
* Raymond L. Terry Jr., of 326 Cedar Avenue, Steubenville, felony possession of cocaine with a major drug offender specification.
Authorities allege Terry, 52, was at the Dudley residence on Jan. 9 when detectives with the drug task force executed a search warrant. Terry originally was allowed to leave the property, but detectives later found a vest they say he left behind that contained 160 grams of cocaine, they said.
The grand jury included the major drug offender specification, which carries a mandatory sentence of 11 years upon conviction, because more than 100 grams of cocaine was involved, prosecutors said.
* Aaron Dwayne Hill, 48, of 530 Ross St., Steubenville, two counts of trafficking drugs, both felonies.
Hill allegedly sold cocaine and a fentanyl compound to a confidential informant Dec. 8, authorities said.
* Jacob Charles Pemberton of 125 Aetna St., Mingo Junction, two counts of domestic violence, both felonies.
The indictment alleges Pemberton, 33, harmed or attempted to harm a family member Jan. 25.
Authorities say the charges rose to felony level because Pemberton had two prior convictions for domestic violence in March 2017, both of them in Wintersville county court.
* Matthew Dale Lanham Jr. of 175 Springfield Township Road 275, Amsterdam, aggravated drug possession and tampering with evidence, both felonies.
Lanham, 31, allegedly sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant Jan. 20 and then tried to get rid of evidence, authorities said.
*Latasha Martin, 30, Wintersville, two counts of endangering children. Martin allegedly put a child at risk, authorities said.