Pair charged in post office break-in
Two local men are facing possible prison time, accused of breaking into local baseball fields, a post office, a business and cars.
The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Austin John Hart and Kevin Glenn Minix, both of whom have a court-listed address at the Tri-County Regional Jail.
Hart, 23, of Milford Center, is charged with three counts each of breaking and entering, theft and forgery, two counts each of possession of criminal tools and petty theft, and one count each of criminal damaging or endangering and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities.
Minix, 30, of Ridgeway, is charged with two counts each of breaking and entering and petty theft and one count of possession of criminal tools, criminal damaging or endangering and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities.
Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said the break-in at the Milford Center post office was the turning point to solving a series of crimes in the village.
Phillips said Hart allegedly forced open a window and got into the post office.
“He allegedly took a significant amount of mail, including checks,” Phillips said. “There were a number of victims at the post office and a number of checks and things.”
Phillips said surveillance footage revealed Hart as the alleged thief. He said Minix was not indicated in the post office break-in. Authorities found much of the mail, and several stolen checks and money orders, along with material from other past thefts at Hart’s home.
Though they had solved the theft at the post office, law enforcement officials continued to investigate. They were able to link Hart, and eventually Minix, to three other alleged break-ins that occurred in the village between May 21 and May 30, including a building owned by the Fairbanks Baseball Association.
“Investigators put together their (method of operation) and combined it with some of our other investigations,” Phillips said. “
Detectives from the Multi-Agency Drug Enforcement Task Force and deputies from the Union County Sheriff’s Office arrested Hart and Minix the first week of June.
Hart was arrested for a bond revocation warrant issued by the Union County Common Pleas Court, and he was taken to the Tri-County Regional Jail. In April, Hart was found guilty of breaking and entering, and was released on bond pending sentencing.
Phillips said both men are facing similar charges in Hardin County.
The grand jury also indicted:
– Daniel Ray Whited, 47, of 784 Derrer Road, Columbus. Whited is charged with one count of aggravated possession of drugs and one count of possession of heroin. According to court documents, on Feb. 18, Whited was arrested with more than a gram of heroin as well as methamphetamines. If convicted on all counts, Whited could face as many as 30 months in prison.
– Weston Charles Henault, 28, whose court-listed address is the Tri-County Regional Jail. Henault is charged with one count of theft, stemming from an incident May 29, when he allegedly took credit cards from a family member. If convicted, Henault could face as many as 12 months in prison.
– Kendell Del Williamson, 29, whose court-listed address is the Tri-County Regional Jail. Williamson is charged with one count each of receiving stolen property and tampering with evidence. According to court documents, on May 31, Williamson allegedly stole a laptop from a local business. He also allegedly tried to hide evidence of the alleged crime. If convicted on all counts, Williamson could face as many as six years in prison.
– Brian Lee Fola Crews, 24, of 2533 Mesa Dr., Hilliard. Crews is charged with one count of trafficking in cocaine. According to court documents, the charges stem from an incident June 7, when Crews was allegedly found in possession of less than five grams of cocaine. If convicted on all counts, Crews could face as many as 12 months in prison.