Ottawa County: Grand jury issues indictments

After a recent session of the Ottawa County Grand Jury, indictments have now been returned against the following individuals, according to Prosecuting Attorney James VanEerten:
-Charles Bruce Garten, Grove City, OH., was indicted on one count each of attempted rape, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, sexual battery and domestic violence, all felonies. According to reports of the Put-in-Bay Police Department, Garten allegedly engaged in sexual activity with a minor under the age of 16 last month.
-Marcia Woznicki, Chagrin Falls, OH., has been indicted on one felony count of aggravated vehicular assault, along with misdemeanor OVI charges. Woznicki is accused of running a stop sign and striking another vehicle last December while she was legally intoxicated.
-Kameo Jones, Port Clinton, was charged with one felony count each of domestic violence and possession of weapons under disability, after officers of the Port Clinton Police Department responded to a dispute last month.
-Austin Tate, Jenera, OH., was charged with one count each of burglary and disrupting public services, after he reportedly entered a Salem Township residence in June, then took the occupant’s phone to prevent her from calling for help.
-Christopher Bocanegra, Fostoria, has been charged with two felony counts of possession of drugs, after officers of the Oak Harbor Police Department allegedly found him in possession of methamphetamine and a fentanyl-related compound during a traffic stop in August of 2021.
-Andre Webb, Port Clinton, has been indicted on one count inducing panic, a felony of the fourth degree. Webb is accused of impeding the ability of first responders to an emergency earlier this summer.
-Brittany Buford, Euclid, was charged with one count each of improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle and possession of drugs, both felonies. According to reports of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Buford was found in possession of a loaded firearm and psilocybin during a traffic stop in January.
-George McMurray, Marblehead, has been indicted on one felony count of assault of a peace officer, along with misdemeanor charges of OVI and resisting arrest. McMurray is accused of causing harm to a Danbury Township Police officer while he was being arrested for OVI.
-Alex Smith, Port Clinton, was indicted on one count of receiving stolen property, a felony of the fourth degree, after he was reportedly found in possession of a stolen car by officers of the Danbury Township Police Department in June.
-Peter Anderson, who is currently being held in the Ottawa County Detention Facility, has been charged with two counts of assault of a peace officer and five counts of harassment with bodily substances, all felonies. Anderson reportedly bit and spit on officers and other emergency workers responding to a call for a disorderly patron at a Put- in- Bay business on June 24.
-Andrew Myers, Oak Harbor, was charged with one count each of domestic violence and disrupting public services, after he allegedly caused physical harm to a family or household member, then prevented the victim from calling for help.
-Jonathan Binder, who is currently being held in the Ottawa County Detention Facility, has been indicted on one count of burglary, after he allegedly entered an Oak Harbor residence on June 10.
-Evan Stigall, Toledo, was indicted on four counts of failure to appear, after failing to attend several hearings on a previously filed criminal indictment.
-Noah Carr, who is being held in the Ottawa County Detention Facility, was indicted on charges of domestic violence and felonious Assault, after he allegedly assaulted a family or household member and also threatened the victim with a firearm.
-Serena Elia, St. Louis, Missouri, was indicted on two felony counts of failure to appear, after she failed to attend hearings pertaining to an unrelated criminal indictment.
Warrants have been issued for Garten, Jones, Tate, Anderson, Binder, and Carr. All others have been scheduled to make their initial appearance in the Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas in August.
VanEerten noted that an indictment is merely a formal charge in the Common Pleas Court, and does not denote the guilt or innocence of the Defendant.