06/03/2026
COURT UPDATES
COURT UPDATES 4/20/26 WEEK
4/20/26
State v. Ifeolu Claytor 23 CR 104 (Possession of Co***ne F5): Defendant admitted to violating the terms of his intervention in lieu by testing positive for narcotics. Defendant continued on intervention due to re-engaging in treatment and doing well during pendency of violation. Case prosecuted by First Assistant Eddie Bibler.
4/21/26
State v. Myeairra Pugh 23 CR 92 (Possession of Co***ne F5): Following a probation violation, Defendant was sentenced to CBCF. However, due to outstanding warrants, she was ineligible for the program. As such, the Court sentenced the Defendant to 180 days in the Morrow County Jail and terminated her community control. Case prosecuted by Assistant Earl Desmond.
State v. Matthew Horn: 25 CR 0030 (Theft of Drugs, F4): Defendant pled guilty to the Indictment.
The Ohio Board of Pharmacy was notified by Discount Drug Mart #81 in Mt. Gilead, Morrow County, Ohio that an employee/trainee, the Defendant, stole 11 tablets of Hydrocodone Bi-Acetaminophen on or about 10/16/2024. This incident was caught on surveillance video. Case investigated by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy.
Defendant proceeded to sentencing where he was sentenced to community control with a CBCF requirement with a requirement to pay the costs of the investigation by the Board of Pharmacy. Case prosecuted by First Assistant Eddie Bibler.
4/24/26
State v. Andrea Walker: Probation Violations – Defendant sentenced to continued community control with a CBCF requirement. Case prosecuted by Assistant Earl Desmond.
State v. Alonzo Bryant 25 CR 108 (Aggravated Possession of Drugs F3, OVI M1): Defendant pled guilty to the Indictment.
On 6/28/25, a reckless operation was called in on a vehicle traveling southbound. The reason for the call was inability to maintain its lane of travel, inconsistent speeds and almost striking a commercial vehicle. Trooper Stanley observed the vehicle change lanes without a turn signal and split various lanes on I-71. A traffic stop was initiated. Trooper Stanley noted an odor of alcohol and ma*****na emitting from the vehicle. Defendant was asked to exit the vehicle, and when asked, admitted to consuming alcohol and using ma*****na, and when asked on a scale of 1-10 how high he felt, he answered a "4." HGN: 6/6 clues, plus VGN. Walk and Turn: 8/8 clues Defendant placed under arrest for OVI. During administrative search, a baggie containing a white substance was located in the center console. When asked, Defendant admitted it was co***ne. Suspected co***ne tested by OSP Crime Lab, where it tested for Co***ne and a weight of 14.6043 Grams +/- 0.0060 Grams. Case investigated by Trooper Stanley of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Defendant elected to proceed directly to sentencing. Defendant sentenced to 24 months in prison to be run concurrently with his time in Richland County and the OVI. Case prosecuted by Assistant Earl Desmond.
State v. Ryan VanDyke 25 CR 89 (Failure to Comply F3, OVI M1): Defendant sentenced to 3 years of community control with a CBCF requirement. Case prosecuted by Assistant Earl Desmond.
COURT UPDATES 4/27/26 WEEK
4/27/26
State v. Falynn Phillips 25 CR 31 (Attempted Theft M1 X2): Defendant failed to appear for sentencing. Warrant issued.
State v. Dreshawn Brooks 23 CR 63 (Improper Handling a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle F4, OVI M1): Defendant failed to appear for sentencing. Warrant issued.
4/29/26
State v. Zachariah Thomas 23 CR 32 (Attempted Possession of Drugs M1): Probation Violation by committing new crimes in Knox County during term of probation. Defendant sentenced, at State’s request, to 180 days in jail and an unsuccessful termination from community control. Case prosecuted by First Assistant Eddie Bibler.
State v. Cade Blackburn 26 CR 5 (Attempted Felonious Assault F3, Abduction F3, Strangulation F4, Domestic Violence M1, Aggravated Menacing M1): State moved to amend Count 2, Abduction, to reflect Attempted Abduction, F4. Defendant pled guilty to said amended count as well as Strangulation, F4. Other charges dismissed. This was done at the victim’s request and urging.
On 1/3/26, Officer Ramos with the Mount Gilead Police Department was dispatched to a domestic call. Defendant refused to leave the apartment during an argument. Defendant trapped the victim in the kitchen area where he grabbed her around her neck. Defendant would not let victim leave the residence. Victim had marks on her neck and lip. Case investigated by Officer Ramos with MGPD and Deputy Binkley with MCSO.
Sentencing scheduled for July 29, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. Case prosecuted by First Assistant Eddie Bibler.
State v. Richard Phillips 25 CR 76 (GSI F3): Defendant was permitted to withdraw his guilty plea over the State’s objection. Matter scheduled for jury trial on August 17, 2026. Case prosecuted by First Assistant Eddie Bibler.
State v. Charles Matyac 24 CR 123 (Failure to Comply F3): Defendant sentenced to 3 years of community control sanctions with a CBCF requirement. Case prosecuted by Assistant Earl Desmond.
State v. Donald Rhoads 25 CR 1 (Failure to Comply F3): Defendant sentenced to 3 years of community control sanctions with a CBCF requirement. Case prosecuted by First Assistant Eddie Bibler.
State v. Joseph McKinney 25 CR 68 (Possession of Fentanyl Related Compound F1): Defendant sentenced to 4-6 years in prison concurrent with Wayne County prison terms. Case prosecuted by First Assistant Eddie Bibler.
5/1/26
State v. James Wise 26 CR 4 (Aggravated Possession of Drugs F5): Defendant filed for intervention in lieu of conviction and changed his plea to the 1 count of Aggravated Possession of Drugs.
On 8/10/25, Deputy Imars was on patrol on I-71 southbound when she discovered a vehicle speeding at 81 MPH in a 70 MPH zone. Defendant said he was speeding because he was passing a semi. Deputy Imars was notified that Defendant had multiple warrants. Deputy Imars placed Defendant in handcuffs and read him his Miranda warnings. A tow of the vehicle was requested and Deputy Imars completed an inventory. Inside a black bag Deputy Imars located a glass pipe with residue, 2 aluminum foil pieces with residue and a yellow piece of paper containing a suspected substance. Deputy Imars collected the items and placed them into evidence bags and submitted the items to BCI for testing. When asked, Defendant acknowledged the items belonged to him. BCI tested the items and the results were that the items contained Methamphetamine, a Schedule II substance.
Case investigated by Deputy Imars of the MCSO. Case prosecuted by First Assistant Eddie Bibler.
State v. Derrick Saum 25 CR 114 (OVI F4): Defendant ordered to serve the 60 day mandatory minimum sentence in the Morrow County Correctional Facility. Defendant then placed on 5 years of community control with 30 months in prison suspended. Case prosecuted by First Assistant Eddie Bibler.
COURT UPDATES 5/4/26 WEEK
5/8/26
State v. Barry Mayberry 25 CR 121 (Assault F5, Vandalism F5 X2): Defendant pled guilty to 1 count of Assault F5 and 1 count of Vandalism F5. In exchange, the State dismissed 1 count of Vandalism F5.
On November 4, 2025, while at the Morrow County Jail, the Defendant ripped a keyboard and computer from the wall at the Morrow County Jail, with the computer and keyboard belonging to the County. The Defendant struck Jimmy Murphy, a Corrections Officer, with the keyboard. Jimmy Murphy was a correction's officer on duty and in his uniform of the day at the time. Upon testing, the keyboard and computer were in fact damaged.
Sentencing scheduled for August 6, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Case prosecuted by First Assistant Eddie Bibler.
State v. Barry Mayberry 24 CR 65 (Assault F5 X3): Defendant admitted to violating the terms of his community control by being terminated from CBCF. Case prosecuted by First Assistant Eddie Bibler.
State v. William McQuirt 26 CR 21 (Strangulation F3): The State moved to amend Count 1 to Attempted Aggravated Strangulation, a felony of the fourth degree.
On February 16, 2026, members of the Cardington Police Department and Morrow County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a residence for a domestic dispute. Upon arriving, the victim showed signs of strangulation but denied having been strangled and indicated she did not wish for charges to be filed.
Case scheduled for sentencing on May 22, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. Case investigated by Deputy Downs of the MCSO and Officer Ramey of the CPD. Case prosecuted by Prosecutor Andrew Wick.
WEEK OF 5/18/26
5/18/26
State v. Augustus Casbarro 24 CR 59 (Possession of Drugs F5): Probation violation. Defendant found to be in violation of terms of probation following contested hearing whereas the Defendant was found in possession of narcotics and did not report law enforcement contact within 24 hours as required. Case prosecuted by First Assistant Eddie Bibler.
5/20/26
State v. Willie Brooks III 24 CR 0094 (Improperly Handling Fi****ms in a Motor Vehicle F5): Defendant filed for and was granted a Motion for Intervention in Lieu of Conviction.
On 4/28/24, OSP Trooper Myers was dispatched to a hit-skip in Richland County. Trooper Myers saw a vehicle matching the description with heavy front end damage on I-71. Trooper Myers observed the vehicle weaving in its lane, and a 40 second delay in coming to a stop following activation of a traffic stop. Trooper Myers arrested the Defendant for OVI following SFSTs. A firearm was located in the glove box of a vehicle which was loaded.
Case investigated by Trooper Myers of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Case prosecuted by First Assistant Eddie Bibler.
State v. Faith Black 23 CR 38 (Failure to Comply F3): Defendant violated the terms of her probation by testing positive for methamphetamines while in Knox Recovery. Defendant was sentenced to 180 days in the Morrow County Correctional Facility and further community control with a requirement of drug court. Case prosecuted by Assistant Earl Desmond.
5/22/26
State v. Jacob Thompson 25 CR 0094 (Sexual Battery F3): Case update provided previously.
State v. William McQuirt 26 CR 21 (Attempted Strangulation F4): Defendant sentenced to 3 years of community control sanctions with a CBCF requirement. Case prosecuted by Prosecutor Andrew Wick.
State v. Brian Kuykendall 26 CR 6 (Tampering with Evidence F3): Defendant pled guilty to an amended charge of Attempted Tampering with Evidence, a felony of the fourth degree.
Case investigated by Officer Brandon Ramey and Chief Otterbacher of CPD. Case prosecuted by Prosecutor Andrew Wick.
Defendant was sentenced to a term of 3 years of community control.
WEEK OF 5/25/26
5/26/26
State v. Brian Wilson – Update previously updated in separate post.
5/27/26
State v. Kaylee Johnson 25 CR 119 Trespass in a Habitation F4, Trespass in a Habitation F4, Vandalism F4, Assault M1):
Defendant pled to the indicated charges prior to trial. Sentencing scheduled July 17, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Case investigated by Sgt. Winkler, Deputy Nelson and Deputy Pearon of MCSO. Case prosecuted by Prosecutor Andrew Wick.
