MOUNT VERNON — A Knox County grand jury indicted three individuals Monday for telecommunications offenses, including telecommunications harassment and telecommunications fraud.
Telecommunications fraud is lying with the intent to cause financial harm while harassment is defined by Ohio law as telecommunication made with the “purpose to harass, intimidate, or abuse” an individual.
Dana B. Edmonds, of Fort Myers, Florida, was indicted on three counts of telecommunications harassment, all first-degree misdemeanors. Edmonds was also indicted on one count of menacing by stalking, a fourth-degree felony, and one count of violating a protection order, a third-degree felony.
Rusty G. Ratliff, of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, was indicted for one count of telecommunications fraud, between $7,500 to $150,000, a third-degree felony. Ratliff is also alleged to have stolen a 2019 RAM 1500 truck, a fourth-degree felony.
Back in Knox County, Rita F. Ray, of Mount Gilead, was indicted for one count of telecommunications fraud, a fifth-degree felony.
The grand jury indicted seven other individuals in its Aug. 10 session.
Cheyenne M. Ramey, of Galion, one count of domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony.
Nancy C. Chongwony, of Lewis Center, one count of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a fourth-degree felony.
Nicole A. Wheeler, homeless, three counts of receiving stolen property, credit cards, all fifth-degree felonies.
Michael L. Mitchell, of Mount Vernon, one count of aggravated possession of drugs, methamphetamine, and one count of violating a protection order, both fifth-degree felonies. Also, one count of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and one count of criminal trespass, a fourth-degree misdemeanor.
Jason D. Payne, of Cleveland, one count of strangulation, a third-degree felony.
Mandy S. Overton, of Utica, one count of burglary, a second-degree felony, and one count of violating a protection order, a third-degree felony.
Hunter T. Strong, of Bellville, one count of receiving stolen property, a 1995 Ford F-150 truck, a fourth-degree felony.
