jpatterson@mariettatimes.com
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday afternoon the arrest of a suspect in the series of bomb and active shooter threats in southeast Ohio schools over the last six days.
Nicholas John Frances Hall, 18, of 1385 Washington Road, Thomson, Ga., was arrested in McDuffie County, Ga., by the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office.
Washington County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Mark Warden announced the arrest after a multi-agency investigation Tuesday.
Hall, according to FBI records, has a past criminal charge out of Lee County, Fla., for a first-degree misdemeanor of battery from March of 2018.
According to the affidavit submitted to Marietta Municipal Court by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday for a warrant uploaded to the National Crime Information Center, Hall allegedly confessed to a deputy sheriff of the Georgia agency that “he made the bomb threats to get his girlfriend out of school.”
At a Glance
¯ Crystal Burke, 41, was indicted on eight counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, and one count of rape.
¯ The rape charge is a first-degree felony, and the other eight are all third-degree felonies.
¯ She faces a maximum of 35 years in prison.
¯ Prosecutors say there were four victims, all around 14 years of age.
Source: Washington County Prosecutor’s Office.
Former Marietta Middle School coach Crystal Burke was indicted this week by the Washington County Grand Jury on one count of rape and eight counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Burke, 41, of 6625 State Route 60, Lowell, was initially arrested on six counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, all third-degree felonies.
jpatterson@mariettatimes.com
Investigation into sexual and alcohol-related allegations in an anonymous letter to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office will net the second appearance of a former Marietta Middle School basketball and track coach in front of Marietta Municipal Court next week.
Crystal Dawn Burke, 41, of 6625 State Route 60, Lowell, appeared in Marietta Municipal Court on Monday for a reading of the six charges against her, all third-degree felony counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
“Today wasn’t even a preliminary hearing, it was just the reading of the charges and allowing her time to get an attorney,” explained Joe Derkin, an assistant prosecutor with the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office.
Note: This breaking news has been updated with the provision of information from the Washington County Prosecutor s Office. See the Tuesday edition of the T
jpatterson@mariettatimes.com
Mike Bates, owner of Jimâs Gun Shop in Beverly, explains ammunition stocking concerns this year after delays in production related to coronavirus and an increase in demand saw many suppliers with reduced access to inventory. (Photo by Janelle Patterson)
Southeast Ohio is no stranger to Second Amendment enthusiasm and education.
“We’re southeast Ohio trained,” said Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks Monday. “Many have been handling firearms since they were around 8 years old… males and females are taught in the home and how you should and shouldn’t utilize (weaponry).”
But a law that takes effect today can reopen the conversation concerning safe and responsible gun ownership, according to both officers of the law and those whose business is in selling the wares.