Lawrence County Prosecutor

06/12/2026

SENTENCING UPDATE

On June 10, 2026, in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court, the Honorable Christen Finley sentenced 54-year-old Flint E. Topping of Ironton to 70 to 74 years in an Ohio Department of Corrections Institution.
Topping was found guilty on May 12, 2026, following a two-day jury trial. The jury convicted Topping of twenty counts of fourth-degree felony Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a Minor or Impaired Person and five counts of second-degree felony Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a Minor or Impaired Person, all violations of Ohio Revised Code 2907.322.
Lawrence County Prosecutor Brigham Anderson would like to thank the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, the Ashland Police Department, and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority for their tireless efforts throughout the investigation and prosecution of this case and for their continued commitment to protecting the citizens of Lawrence County.

Photo description:
The image on the right is the booking photo of Flint E. Topping. The image on the left shows Lawrence County Prosecutor Brigham Anderson and the Honorable Christen Finley during closing arguments in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

05/26/2026

The Lawrence County Grand Jury returned the following indictments during the May 2026 Session:

Jeffrey Scott Spencer, 48, address unknown — Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-5); Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M-4); Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs (M-1).

Eli Aaron Freeman, 20, Scottown — Strangulation (F-3); Disrupting Public Services (F-4); Domestic Violence (F-5).

Donald Cottrill, 50, Ironton — Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (F-3); Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound (F-5); Receiving Proceeds of an Offense Subject to Forfeiture Proceedings (F-5).

Shawn A. Delong, 48, Pedro — Tampering with Evidence (F-3); Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-5); Obstructing Official Business (M-2).

Jordan Dickens, 35, South Point — Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound (F-5).

Reginald E. Kinstler, 47, Coal Grove — Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (F-2) (5 counts); Trafficking in a Fentanyl-Related Compound (F-4) (2 counts); Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-3); Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound (F-4).

David Hatton, 55, Prestonsburg, KY — Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-5); Having Weapons While Under Disability (F-3); Improper Handling of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle (F-5).

Eddie Hill, 46, Pedro — Open Dumping (Unclassified Felony); Abandoning Animals (M-2) (7 counts); Prohibitions Concerning Companion Animals (M-1) (7 counts).

Tracy Lee Dement, 55, Chesapeake — OVI (F-3); Possession of Drugs (F-5).

An indictment is merely a formal charge and does not indicate guilt.

F = Felony, M = Misdemeanor; numbers indicate the degree of the offense.

05/15/2026

05/12/2026

SENTENCING UPDATE

On June 10, 2026, in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court, the Honorable Christen Finley sentenced 54-year-old Flint E. Topping of Ironton to 70 to 74 years in an Ohio Department of Corrections Institution.
Topping was found guilty on May 12, 2026, following a two-day jury trial. The jury convicted Topping of twenty counts of fourth-degree felony Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a Minor or Impaired Person and five counts of second-degree felony Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a Minor or Impaired Person, all violations of Ohio Revised Code 2907.322.
Lawrence County Prosecutor Brigham Anderson would like to thank the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, the Ashland Police Department, and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority for their tireless efforts throughout the investigation and prosecution of this case and for their continued commitment to protecting the citizens of Lawrence County.

__________________________________________________________________

On May 12, 2026, following a two-day jury trial in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court before the Honorable Christen Finley, 54-year-old Flint E. Topping of Ironton was found guilty of twenty counts of fourth-degree felony Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a Minor or Impaired Person, and five counts of second-degree felony Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a Minor or Impaired Person, all violations of Ohio Revised Code 2907.322.

The maximum sentence allowed by law for these convictions is 74 years in an Ohio state penal institution.

Judge Finley set sentencing for June 10, 2026, in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Lawrence County Prosecutor Brigham Anderson would like to thank the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, the Ashland Police Department, and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority for their tireless efforts in this case and for their continued work in helping protect the citizens of Lawrence County.

Photo description:
The image on the left is the booking photo of Flint E. Topping. The image on the right shows Lawrence County Prosecutor Brigham Anderson and the Honorable Christen Finley during closing arguments in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

04/30/2026

The Lawrence County Grand Jury returned the following indictments during the April 2026 Session:

Shalya R. Perkins, 34, Pedro — Theft (F-5).

Crystal Dawn Lucas, 40, South Point — Theft from a Person in a Protected Class (F-4).

Jaclyn M. Stiltner, 47, Proctorville — Grand Theft (F-3); Theft (F-5).

Johann A. Lattimer, 33, Euclid — Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-4); Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (F-4).

Dazeshawn Demond Crim, 32, Detroit, MI — Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (F-3) (2 counts); Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-3) (2 counts); Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (F-2); Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-2); Trafficking in Ma*****na (F-3); Possession of Ma*****na (F-3).

John D. Davis, 35, Coal Grove — Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle (F-4) (2 counts).

Kayla Thompson, 25, Huntington, WV — Tampering with Evidence (F-3); Criminal Damaging (M-2).

Roger Burress, 67, South Point — Domestic Violence (F-4).

Dantonio D. Swanson, Jr., 33, Detroit, MI — Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (F-1) with Major Drug Offender Specification; Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-1) with Major Drug Offender Specification; Trafficking in a Fentanyl-Related Compound (F-1); Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound (F-1); Tampering with Evidence (F-3).

William J. Scherer, 54, Pedro — Domestic Violence (F-4).

Austin M. Sharp, 30, Ironton — Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (F-3); Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-3); Resisting Arrest (M-2); Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity (F-2).

Tara Lynn Fyffe, 33, Kitts Hill — Trafficking in a Fentanyl-Related Compound (F-4) (2 counts); Possession of a Fentanyl-Related Compound (F-4) (2 counts); Tampering with Evidence (F-3); Illegal Conveyance of Prohibited Items onto the Grounds of a Detention Facility or Institution (F-3).

Andrew J. Gillum, 41, Ironton — Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-5).

Veronica L. Reynolds, 45, Ironton — Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-3).

Savannah N. Murphy, 32, Pedro — Trafficking in Fentanyl (F-3) (2 counts); Trafficking in Fentanyl (F-4); Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (F-5); Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity (F-3).

John D. Larson, 46, Ironton — Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-5).

Mickey R. Wilson, 37, Ironton — Intimidation of a Victim (F-3).

Zachary Jenkins, 35, Pedro — Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity (F-2).

Casey P. O’Brien, 35, Springfield — Failure to Comply with the Order or Signal of a Police Officer (F-4); Improper Handling of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle (F-4).

An indictment is merely a formal charge and does not indicate guilt.
* F = Felony, M = Misdemeanor; numbers indicate the degree of the offense.

04/30/2026

On April 27, 2026, following a jury trial in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court before Judge Andrew Ballard, Jason Edward Fritz, 47, of Ironton, Ohio, was found guilty and convicted on 17 counts of Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a Minor or Impaired Person.

Each count is a second-degree felony and is a violation of Ohio Revised Code 2907.322. Fritz faces a maximum possible sentence of 136 years in prison.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 20, 2026, in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court.

Lawrence County Prosecutor Brigham M. Anderson would like to thank the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, the Ashland Police Department, and Hope’s Place for their assistance and continued support throughout this case. Their efforts reflect a shared commitment to protecting the citizens of Lawrence County and supporting victims through the criminal justice process.

(Pictured is a booking photo of Jason Fritz at the time of his arrest)

04/02/2026

The Lawrence County Grand Jury met for the March 2026 session and returned the following indictments:

Ben Justice, 46, of Louisa, Kentucky, was indicted on one count of Robbery (F-2) and one count of Resisting Arrest (M-2).

John P. Blair, 46, of Ironton, Ohio, was indicted on one count of Vandalism (F-5) and one count of Disrupting Public Services (F-4).

Michael Anthony Lewis, 42, of South Point, Ohio, was indicted on one count of Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-5).

Martha E. Owens, 44, of South Point, Ohio, was indicted on two counts of Theft (F-5).

Joseph R. Sherman, 27, of South Point, Ohio, was indicted on one count of Domestic Violence (F-4), one count of Strangulation (F-4), and one count of Disrupting Public Services (F-4).

Sean James, 34, of Ironton, Ohio, was indicted on one count of Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-5).

Aaron C. Donathan, 53, of Rush, Kentucky, was indicted on one count of Having Weapons While Under Disability (F-3), one count of Possession of a Fentanyl Related Compound (F-3), and one count of Aggravated Menacing (M-1).

Jason Allen Lewis, 33, of Buffalo, West Virginia, was indicted on one count of Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-3).

John L. Hall, 52, of Catlettsburg, Kentucky, was indicted on one count of Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-3) and one count of Possession of Co***ne (F-5).

William Davis, 53, of Pedro, Ohio, was indicted on one count of Having Weapons While Under Disability (F-3), one count of Improperly Discharging a Firearm (F-3), one count of Receiving Stolen Property (F-4), and one count of Impersonating a Police Officer (F-3).

Mickey Wilson, 37, of Ironton, Ohio, was indicted on one count of Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs (F-2), one count of Aggravated Possession of Drugs (F-3), and one count of Weapons While Under Disability (F-3).

Danielle Spears, 23, of Ashland, Kentucky, was indicted on two counts of Endangering Children (F-3).

Kyle Calhoun, 24, of Ironton, Ohio, was indicted on two counts of Endangering Children (F-3), one count of Endangering Children (F-2), and two counts of Felonious Assault (F-2).

James Baldwin, 53, of Chesapeake, Ohio, was indicted on ten counts of R**e (F-1).

Peggy Pyles, 63, of South Point, Ohio, was indicted on one count of Domestic Violence (F-3) and one count of Violation of a Protection Order (M-1).

Savannah Murphy, 32, of Pedro, Ohio, was indicted on one count of Permitting Drug Abuse (F-5), one count of Possession of a Fentanyl Related Compound (F-3), and one count of Endangering Children (M-1).

Zachary Jenkins, 35, of Pedro, Ohio, was indicted on five counts of Trafficking in Fentanyl (F-3, F-4, F-5, F-3, and F-2) and one count of Endangering Children (M-1).

An indictment is merely a formal charge and does not indicate guilt.
* F = Felony, M = Misdemeanor; numbers indicate the degree of the offense.