Newark Advocate
NEWARK - The Licking County Prosecutor s Office dismissed a felony charge against a Newark man after a judge suppressed some evidence in the case.
Licking County court records show the agency in July 2019 filed a motion to dismiss a single pandering obscenity involving a minor charge that had been filed against Jason Farmer, 42, of Newark, following a suppression hearing a few months prior.
The dismissal was recently brought to the attention of The Advocate.
According to Judge Thomas Marcelain s ruling on the motion, the judge approved defense attorney Andrew Sanderson s motion to suppress certain evidence in the case, meaning it could not be considered during a trial.
Licking County judge s office closed after positive COVID-19 results
Newark Advocate
NEWARK - A Licking County judge s office is closed the remainder of the week due to positive COVID-19 results.
In an email to The Advocate, Licking County Common Pleas Judge David Branstool confirmed his office is closed this week due to some positive test results.
Among other cases on Branstool s docket, the closure postponed a change of plea and sentencing hearing on Monday for defendant Keegan W. Mummey, 20, of Newark. Mummey is charged in the shooting death of 12-year-old Isabella Barnes in the summer of 2019. A court hearing for the case has yet to be rescheduled, according to Licking County court records.
Centerburg man pleads guilty to charges in Homer area police standoff
Newark Advocate
NEWARK - A Centerburg man this week pleaded to charges related to a police standoff in the Homer area.
James A. Dague, 32, of Centerburg, pleaded guilty to one count each obstructing official business, a fifth-degree felony, and aggravated menacing, a first-degree misdemeanor, in Licking County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday.
According to Assistant Licking County Prosecutor Rachel Timoneri, their agency filed a motion to dismiss one count of having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony, in the case.
Licking County court records filed in October report the Licking County Sheriff s Office was dispatched to a home in the 4900 block of Homer Road NW in Centerburg in October for the report of a person who had barricaded themselves, along with unwilling individuals, inside the home. There was also a report someone had fired a weapon inside the home.