Ross County grand jury indicts four over drugs
CHILLICOTHE — Two were recently indicted after being found with hundreds of grams of meth said Jenna Hornyak, an investigator for the Ross County Prosecutor's Office.
Ariel Ballein, from Bainbridge, and Misty Lansing, from Peebles, were indicted on counts of aggravated possession of drugs with a major drug offender specification and aggravated trafficking of drugs, both first-degree felonies. Hornyak said a trooper was conducting a traffic stop in February of this year for speeding when the trooper saw a pipe and a torn baggie with a white residue in it.
When asked how much meth was in the vehicle the driver, Lansing, said there was just a little bit. Troopers however found multiple bags that totaled 445.3 grams of meth. The individuals later admitted to knowing there was meth in the vehicle as they had gone to Columbus to pick it up and bring it south, according to Hornyak.
The defendants face up to 11 years and a $20,000 fine for the first count and up to 12 months and a $2,500 fine for the second count.
Ronald Anderson, of Piketon, was indicted for kidnapping, a second-degree felony, and escape, a fifth-degree felony. Officers were dispatched to Menards in reference to a theft of a knife. The defendant and a female were arrested after the defendant ran and the female gave a fake name of the defendant to the officer, according to the prosecutor's office.
While in the back of the cruiser Anderson used a handcuff key, which he had on a necklace he was wearing, and undo one of his cuffs. he then told the female he was going to hold her hostage to try to escape. When at the jail he grabbed her by the head and neck, staff had to use a taser to get him to let go. Officers then found the key in the mouth of the defendant.
Anderson faces up to 8 years and a $15,000 fine for his first count and up to 12 months and a $2,500 fine for the second count.
Two were also indicted for possession of cocaine, trafficking of cocaine, possession of cocaine and having weapons under disability, according to Todd Bost, an investigator for the Ross County Prosecutor's Office.
Robert Rogers, of Chillicothe, and Kathleen Hamilton, of Chillicothe, were found after undercover surveillance of a residence in Chillicothe took place. While leaving the house officers followed the vehicle and pulled them over after committing a traffic violation. Drug paraphernalia was then found in the vehicle as well as around 111 grams of cocaine in the glove box, according to Bost.
When later searching the house officers found several guns, which the defendants could not have due to prior convictions, and another baggie of cocaine, which had about 27 grams of cocaine in it.
The defendants face up to 11 years and a $20,000 fine for the first count and up to three years and a $10,000 fine for the third count.
A total of 19 cases were presented at grand jury, all 19 were returned true bill.
Shelby Reeves is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. You can email her at SReeves@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @Shelby_Reeves_
This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Two indicted after being found with over 400 grams of meth
