×

Jefferson County grand jury hands down indictments

STEUBENVILLE — A sexagenarian who allegedly supplied a teenage girl with marijuana vapes in exchange for sex and another who allegedly broke into a residence and tried to hug one of the occupants were among those indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury Wednesday.

Also among those ordered to stand trial was a Toronto man who discharged a gun after his ex wouldn’t reconcile with him.

Brian Lee Kinney, 63, 118 W. Steubenville St., Bloomingdale, faces felony charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a 15-year-old, gross sexual imposition and importuning during a 30-day period beginning in June.

Authorities say at the time of the alleged incidents Kinney was already on parole for murder.

Grand jurors also returned a two-count indictment against Dazaun Marquise Hicks, 1005 Bantam Ridge Road, Wintersville, on charges of trespassing in a habitation when a person is present or likely to be present and resisting arrest July 28.

Authorities allege Hicks, 25, broke into a stranger’s house “and tried to give someone a hug.” They said the victim screamed and the intruder fled but was taken into custody, but after allegedly telling police “He was on mushrooms” he had to be cleared medically before he could be booked into jail. Hicks was charged with resisting after he allegedly tried to jump out of the ambulance twice, they said.

Others named in the indictments:

• David Lee Alum, 56, 71 Trails End Road, Toronto, felonious assault plus three misdemeanor counts of domestic violence, two misdemeanor counts of endangering children.

Authorities maintain Alum’s ex had, with his permission, returned to the property with two teenagers to retrieve the rest of her belongings several months after their breakup, but once there he tried to talk her into getting back together with him. When she declined, they allege Alum “put a gun under his chin and fired it up in the air,” terrifying the neighbors who then called police as well as his ex and the teens, who barricaded themselves in his attic. Allum, still wielding the gun, kicked the attic door in but a sheriff’s deputy who had responded to the call was able to “talk him down,” they allege.

Alum also faces charges of aggravated menacing for allegedly pointing the gun at the deputy as well as inducing panic by putting his ex, the teens, the neighbors who called for help and the responding officer in fear for their lives.

• Derrick Robert Giles, 34, no fixed address, felony burglary and misdemeanor domestic violence.

Giles allegedly broke into a family member’s home on Aug. 5 and assaulted her, entering her bedroom while she was sleeping. Authorities allege that when Giles was taken into custody, he told them “He didn’t steal anything so it should just be breaking and entering.”

• Javionte Dashaun Ernest Howes, 804½ Hickory St., Martins Ferry, theft. Authorities allege Howes, 27, was spotted by Wal-Mart employees leaving the store with merchandise he hadn’t paid for on July 28, but they were unable to catch him. Howes was taken into custody when he returned to the store on July 30, they said.

• Romina Shawka Harris, 800 Oakmont Ave., Steubenville, unlawful transactions in weapons. Harris, 30, allegedly purchased a firearm for a convicted felon in October 2022.

• A superseding indictment also was returned against Dustin Skyler Schockow, 33, of New Philadelphia. Schockow had originally been indicted in April on charges of grand theft of a firearm, breaking and entering and two counts of felony theft, but a charge of misdemeanor theft was added after an additional victim was located. The original indictment alleged Schockow took a gun, credit cards and an airport ID from an unoccupied property in Jefferson County on Feb. 8.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today