According to files from the Circuit Court Clerk's office, several local individuals were repeatedly indicted on numerous charges relating to a local daycare during last week's grand jury proceedings.

Rhonda Stapp, born in May of 1966, Wesley Powell, born in April of 1989, and Heather Dykes born in June of 1962 were collectively placed under indictment in three different cases on  thirteen counts in each indictment.

Each count alleging that on July 15, 2009 Stapp, Powell and Dykes committed the offense of Criminal Abuse, 1st Degree by placing 13 children, each less than 12-years-old, in a vehicle located inside a garage thereby placing him in a situation, that could cause serious physical injury, or thereby causing cruel confinement or cruel punishment.

In the 14th charge of each indictment Stapp is charged individually with one count of criminal abuse of a child under 12 by placing a child with special dietary needs in a situation that could have caused serious physical injury

The state had closed the childcare facility that had been operated in a subdivision in northern Jamestown after the allegations were brought to their attention. Stapp had said at that time that there was nothing to them and the investigation was simply the result of a disgruntled former employee.

In other indictments true-billed by the Russell County Grand Jury-

•The grand jury charges that on October 8, 2009 Timothy Lawless, born in September of 1979, committed the offense of burglary, 2nd degree, a class c felony and that of theft by unlawful. taking of property of money valued over $500.

• The grand jury charges that on or about June 26, 2007, William "Billy" Stanton, born in March of 1979, committed the offense of arson, 2nd degree, by starting a fire with the intent to destroy or damage a building owned by Phillip Wooldridge

•The grand jury charges that on or about March 20, 2009, Josh Galbreath, born in August of 1986, committed the offense of arson, 1st degree by starting a fire with the intent to destroy or damage a building owned by Larry Appleby, while the building was inhabited or occupied,

It was also charged that Galbreath committed the offense of burglary, 3rd degree; the offense of criminal mischief, 1st degree, a class d felony, in that he destroyed property belonging to Larry Appleby causing damage in excess of $1,000.

• The grand jury charges that Christopher Glenn Jones, born in June of 1982, he committed the offense of arson, 2nd degree, a class b felony by starting a with the intent to destroy or damage a building owned by William Paul Bernard

• The grand jury charges that Gary L. Russell, born in April of 1962, committed the offense of arson, 2nd degree by starting a fire with the intent to destroy or damage a building owned by Deborah A. Russell.

It was also charged that Russell committed the offense of burglary, 2nd degree by entering or remaining unlawfully in a residence owned by Deborah A. Russell with the intent to commit a crime.

•The grand jury charges that Dana Renee Anderson, born in January of 1980, committed the offense of flagrant nonsupport by persistently failing to provide support, which she can reasonably provide, and which has a known duty to provide to her minor children and the failure resulted in an arrearage in excess of $1,000.

• The grand jury charges that Pattie Martin Keller, born in January of 1966, committed the offense of flagrant nonsupport, a class d felony, by persistently failing to provide support, which she can reasonably provide, and which she has a known duty to provide to her minor children and the failure resulted in an arrearage in excess of $1,000.

• Three numbered indictments all alleging that they committed crimes at the home of Oscar Schmidt charged the following individuals: Matthew Ginn born in November of 1987; Nathan Acree born in July of 1991; Brandon York born in May of 1987; and Linda Weiand born in July of 1991.

It was charged by the grand jury that Matthew Ginn, Nathan Acree and Brandon York committed the offense of burglary, 1 at degree, a class b felony by knowingly entering or remaining unlawfully in the dwelling of Oscar Sizemore, with the intent to commit a crime therein, and while effecting entry in the dwelling, while in the dwelling or in the immediate flight from the dwelling they were armed with a deadly weapon.

Weiand was charged with complicity to burglary, 1st degree, a class b felony, by having the intention of promoting and facilitating the offense of burglary, 1st degree she allegedly engaged in a conspiracy with Matthew Ginn, Nathan Acree & Brandon York to commit the offense.

Ginn, Acree and York were also charged with the offense of theft by unlawful taking of a firearm, a class d felony.

Weiand was charged with the offense of complicity in the theft of a firearm.

Ginn, Acree and York were charged with theft by unlawful taking over $500, a class d felony.

 And finally, Weiand was charged wih Complicity to theft of property or money valued over $500.

• The grand jury charges that in July of 2009 Sootty Wriqht, born in June of 1989, committed the offense of assault, 1st degree, causing serious physical injury to Garrell Rogers by cutting him with a knife.

• The grand jury charges that Heather Kerr, born in April of 1983 committed the offense of Theft by Unlawful Taking over $500 by taking $1300.00 cash belonging to Martha Burton.

• The grand jury charges that on June 29, 2009, Avalee Smith, born in June of 1959, committed the offense of cultivating marijuana, 1st offense by unlawfully planting or cultivating 5 or more plants of marijuana.

It was also charged that Smith committed the offense of possession of drug paraphernalia, 1st offense.

And that Smith committed the offense of persistent felony offender, 2nd degree

•The grand jury charges that Dustin C. Dufran, born in January of 1990, committed the offense of rape, 2nd deqree, a class c felony by being over 18-yeas-old when engaging in sexual intercourse with a person less than 14 years old

• The grand jury charges that Denisha Polston, born in October of 1981, committed the offense of receiving stolen property over $500 by receiving, retaining or disposing of property belonging to Rebecca McClenithan.

• The grand jury charges that in January and May of 2009 David A. Rakes, born in December of 1959, committed the offense of rape, lst degree, by engaging in sexual intercourse with a child who was less than 12 years old, by forcible compulsion

And further charges that in May Rakes committed the offense of Incest, a Class A Felony, by engaging in sexual intercourse with a child whom he knows to be a descendant and who is s than 12 years of age

• The grand jury charges that Gary Stephen Henson, born in February of 1978, committed the offense of assault, 4th degree, a class a misdemeanor, by intentionally causing physical injury to Russell Rice.

That case was then remanded to the District Court for disposition.

The Times Journal reminds readers that a grand jury indictment is not proof of guilt, but the judgment by those individuals as a group that enough evidence exists in the case to warrant a trial.