Charges against Richard Wilson, 51, of Stewart, the husband of the City of Nelsonvilleâs ex-deputy auditor, Stephanie Wilson, were dropped Monday in Athens County Common Pleas Court.
The prosecution alleges that, in addition to the large sum of money already taken by Stephanie Wilson, at least another $45,000 in fraudulent tax returns were also withdrawn, an Athens County Prosecutorâs Office media release stated.
Stephanie Wilsonâs March 8 indictment notes that she allegedly filed and processed inaccurate tax returns for her husbandâs company, Wilson Construction.
Stephanie Wilson later allegedly created fake businesses for the purpose of collecting tax returns from Nelsonville. The ex-deputy auditor then reportedly opened bank accounts to deposit checks written by the city to these businesses, and then she closed the accounts.
Athens NEWS Editor
The Athens County Prosecutorâs Office and Athens County Sheriffâs Office confirmed that a social media post made by a person claiming to be Serah Bellar, a former Amesville youth who was reported missing last year, was made by Bellar herself.
Bellar was reported missing in April of 2020 and was last spotted in the Millfield area, according to the Ohio Attorney Generalâs Office database of missing people.
Per the database, she was labeled as an âendangered runaway,â and she was 16 at the time of her disappearance. She is now 18 years old.
However, Bellar posted on Monday under the profile name âDelilah Rose Priceâ that she left the area on her own accord and is currently safe, living âout Westâ with a friend.
From staff reports
The alleged leader of an area drug ring pleaded not guilty to charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and aggravated possession of drugs in the Athens County Common Pleas Court Monday.
Judge Patrick Lang ordered that Roger Rutter, 50, of Glouster, be placed under a bond of $1 million.
First Assistant Prosecutor Meg Saunders argued for the million-dollar bond, citing Rutter as a âsubstantial flight risk.â Saunders pointed out that Rutter was aware that law enforcement was searching to execute an arrest warrant on him because he shared a media release to that effect on his own Facebook account. She also cited Rutter running from law enforcement when spotted near the Burr Oak Dam and that Rutter hid from police during the search of the Glouster home in which he was eventually found, a prosecutorâs offce press release stated.
Roger Rutter Athens County Prosecutor’s Office Chief Investigator Jay Barrett, left, escorts Roger Rutter into a vehicle following Rutter’s arrest Friday in Glouster. (Photo Provided)
Roger Rutter
ATHENS, Ohio The suspected leader of an Athens/Perry County drug ring was apprehended Friday after two weeks on the run, the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office announced.
Roger Rutter, 50, of Glouster, was indicted in March on second-degree felony charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and aggravated possession of drugs. A release from the prosecutor’s office said Rutter was aware there was a warrant out for his arrest because a post requesting information on his whereabouts was shared by his Facebook account.
Apr 12, 2021
y Prosecutorâs Office Chief Investigator Jay Barrett, left, escorts Roger Rutter into a vehicle following Rutterâs arrest Friday in Glouster. y Prosecutorâs Office Chief Investigator Jay Barrett, left, escorts Roger Rutter into a vehicle following Rutterâs arrest Friday in Glouster.
The suspected leader of an Athens/Perry County drug ring was apprehended Friday after two weeks on the run, the Athens County Prosecutor’s Office announced.
Roger Rutter, 50, of Glouster, was indicted in March on second-degree felony charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and aggravated possession of drugs. A release from the prosecutor’s office said Rutter was aware there was a warrant out for his arrest because a post requesting information on his whereabouts was shared by his Facebook account.