What started as an attempt to help a stranded motorist has led to felony charges against a pair of out-of-state women.
The Union County Grand Jury has indicted codefendants Sabrina Lynn Armstrong and Isabella Mari Montes De Oca.
Montes De Oca, 19, of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Armstrong, 24, of Bryan, Texas, are each charged with one count each of receiving stolen property and obstructing official business.
According to court documents, on Aug. 18, a Union County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped to help the driver and occupant of a silver Nissan SUV which was disabled on U.S. 33 near Scottslawn Road.
While the deputy was helping, he learned the SUV was reported stolen out of Minnesota. As he checked into the matter, the deputy learned Armstrong was listed as a suspect in the theft.
If convicted, Montes De Oca and Armstrong could each face more than 19 months in prison.
Also indicted was:
– Dean Christian Ray Parish, 41, of 16420 Allenby Drive, Room 205. Parish is charged with one count each of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle.
Phillips said on Aug. 22, Parish was allegedly driving more than 90 miles per hour on U.S. 33. When troopers attempted to stop the vehicle, Parish allegedly tried to run. He was clocked allegedly going more than 100 miles per hour on Route 4. The police chase went into Delaware County. Eventually the chase was terminated. When police found the vehicle, the driver had fled. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded handgun. Parish was captured a short time later after he tried to get a resident in the area to let him in their home.
If convicted on all counts, Parish could face six and a half years in prison.
– Manolo Rodriguez Rivera, 43, of 861 Watkins Glen Boulevard. Rivera is charged with two counts of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.
On Aug. 14, Rivera was stopped by a highway patrol trooper who observed signs he had been drinking. A test revealed a blood alcohol level of 0.175, more than twice the legal limit to drive in Ohio.
Investigators found a loaded handgun under the driver’s seat. While Rivera does have a Florida permit to carry a concealed weapon, the permit does not allow him to carry the gun when he has been drinking.
If convicted, Rivera could face as many as 18 months in prison.
– Marcus W. Douglas, 27, of Columbus. Douglas is charged with one count each of trafficking in cocaine, possession of cocaine and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle.
According to court documents, about 12:16 a.m. Feb. 7, Douglas was clocked going more than 100 miles per hour on U.S. 33.
When the vehicle was stopped, the highway patrol trooper said he could smell alcohol coming from the vehicle. He also noticed the driver had “very red glassy bloodshot eyes.”
The man told the trooper there was a revolver in the car and reached back towards it.
According to court documents, Douglas was “removed from the vehicle and detained.” Douglas admitted to drinking alcohol and using what he thought was cocaine.
Investigators allegedly found illegal drugs on Douglas as well as in the car. They also found the gun.
If convicted on all counts, Douglas could face as many as five years in prison and be forced to surrender his revolver.
– Benjamin Barger, 25, of Powell. Barger is charged with one count of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, stemming from a July 23 incident.
Phillips said a Plain City Police Department officer saw the vehicle and recognized Barger. The officer ran a check of the man’s registration and learned his license had been suspended for a variety of reasons and that he had a warrant for his arrest. When the Plain City officer attempted to stop the vehicle, Barger allegedly fled.
Barger drove on several roads in Union, Madison and Franklin counties, avoiding police stop sticks and attempts to stop him.
If convicted, Barger could face as many as five years in prison.
– Scott Walter, 59, of Dublin. Walter is charged with one count each of tampering with records and falsification.
Phillips said that on Sept. 28, 2020, Walter took allegedly fake documentation of a purchased vehicle into the local auto title office. The paperwork indicated he bought the vehicle in a different state than he did. Other records the man presented did not match and the title application was ultimately rejected.
Phillips said the man allegedly tried to do the same thing at the title office in Delaware County, though he is not sure what Walter hoped to achieve by falsifying the information.
If convicted, Walter could face more than five years in prison.