Crescent-News.com - Defiance grand jury indicts 20 individuals

A Defiance County grand jury has returned indictments against 20 persons, according to Prosecutor Jeff Strausbaugh's office.

Indicted were:

-- Jeffery Bechtold, 43, Mark Center, six counts of rape, each a first-degree felony. Authorities allege that Bechtold engaged in sexual conduct with a female juvenile on two occasions while the child was under the age of 10 and on another occasion while the child was between the ages of 10 and 13, compelling the victim to submit by force or threat of force. Authorities further allege that Bechtold engaged in sexual conduct with a different female juvenile on one occasion while the child was under the age of 10 and on two occasions while the child was between the ages of 10 and 13, compelling the victim to submit by force or threat of force.

-- Joseph Johnson, 26, 1003 Harrison Ave., kidnapping, a first-degree felony; felonious assault, a second-degree felony; and abduction, a third-degree felony. Authorities allege that Johnson removed a person from where the victim was found with purpose to inflict serious physical harm on the victim. Authorities further allege that Johnson caused, or attempted to cause, serious physical harm to the victim with a knife.

-- Robert Kramer Jr., 26, 860 Ottawa Ave., felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and aggravated assault, a fourth-degree felony. Authorities allege that Kramer inflicted serious physical harm on a victim with a broken beer bottle on Defiance's Jackson Avenue.

-- Kevin Cranson, 44, 1102 Perry St., driving under the influence, a third-degree felony, and possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony. Authorities allege that Cranson operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or a drug of abuse, having had a prior felony conviction for the same offense.

-- Mark Esparza, 21, 1051 Ralston Ave., and Michael March, 22, 22314 Banner School Road, each for burglary, a third-degree felony, and theft, a fifth-degree felony. Authorities allege that the defendants entered a residence without permission of the owner and stole various items of property.

-- Timothy Babcock, 30, 700 Kiser Road, failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony. The charge alleges that Babcock failed to appear for a pretrial hearing on a felony after having been released on a personal-recognizance bond.

-- Robert Head, 62, Hicksville, failure to appear, a fourth-degree felony. Authorities allege that he failed to appear for a pretrial hearing on a felony after having been released on a personal-recognizance bond.

-- Peter Krok, 36, Napoleon, grand theft, a fourth-degree felony. He allegedly obtained more than $5,000 by deception.

-- Thomas McCoy, 24, 1003 Harrison Ave., burglary, a fourth-degree felony. Authorities allege that McCoy entered a residence without permission of the owner when people were present or likely to be present.

-- Kevin Ridgway, 31, 1035 Ottawa Ave., domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony. He allegedly caused, or attempted to cause, physical harm to a family member, having had a prior conviction for domestic violence.

-- Michael Brown, 34, 14957 Road 171, violating a protection order, a fifth-degree felony. Authorities allege that Brown violated the terms of a protection order, having two prior convictions for violating a protection order.

-- Michael Corass, 25, 406 Franklin St., breaking and entering, theft and receiving stolen property, each a fifth-degree felony. Authorities allege that he broke into an unoccupied structure in Defiance County and removed property worth more than $500. Authorities further allege that Corass was in possession of property worth more than $500 that had been stolen from a school in Defiance County.

-- Charles Dawson, 36, Houma, La., two counts of passing bad checks, each a fifth-degree felony. Authorities allege that Dawson wrote two checks, each worth more than $500, knowing they would be dishonored.

-- Shawn Embry, 32, 15822 Maumee St., non-support of dependents, a fifth-degree felony. Authorities allege that Embry failed to provide adequate support to her children for more than 26 weeks out of 104 consecutive weeks.

-- Zachary Haller, 26, Paulding, receiving stolen property and forgery, each a fifth-degree felony. Authorities allege that Haller used a stolen credit card at Defiance businesses and obtained property worth more than $500.

-- Abby Miller, 30, 1048 Harrison Ave., identity fraud, a fifth-degree felony. Authorities allege that Miller used another person's name and Social Security number to obtain a credit card.

-- Luis Schleiffer, 29, Huntington, Ind., two counts of theft, each a fifth-degree felony. Authorities allege that Schleiffer entered several vehicles in Defiance, removing a credit card and property worth more than $500.

-- Daniel Strong, 22, Toledo, aggravated possession of drugs (psilocyn), a fifth-degree felony.

One secret indictment was also returned, but the defendant's name will not be released until that person is arrested.

Arraignments are scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday in Defiance County Common Pleas Court.