¯ James McKnight was sentenced to five years of community control.
¯ He pleaded guilty in January to attempted improperly discharging firearm at or into a habitation.
¯ He was indicted in March 2020 on three charges.
¯ McKnight was ordered to undergo drug and mental health assessment.
Source: Washington County Court of Common Pleas.
Five years of community control was the sentence passed down Friday to a Marietta man for “attempted improperly discharging firearm at or into a habitation.”
James Allen McKnight, 45, of 152 Riverview Drive, Marietta, pleaded guilty in January to the reduced third-degree felony charge, while two other charges, including two counts of unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance – illegally manufacturing or processing explosives, both fifth-degree felonies, were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
jpatterson@mariettatimes.com The arraignment of Steven Andrew Osborne, left, 19, of 529 Federal Road, Little Hocking, for attempted murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence, and having weapons under disability, was facilitated via teleconference Friday between Washington County Common Pleas Court and the Washington County Jail. Also pictured: Judge Mark Kerenyi presiding and attorneys for the prosecution and defense seated at opposing tables in front of a gallery including relations to Osborne.
What’s next:
¯ Osborne would next be scheduled for a competency evaluation to determine whether he is fit to stand trial.
¯ Following such an evaluation a competency hearing would enter that evaluation into the record of the case.
¯ Regular business meeting of the board of commissioners, 9 a.m. Thursday, 1115 Gilman Ave.
Source: Washington County Commission Clerk.
A special prosecutor may soon be appointed to handle misdemeanor animal cruelty and neglect cases.
Washington County Sheriff’s Sgt. Kelly McGilton and board members of the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley met with Washington County Commissioners after their regular business meeting Thursday morning.
McGilton said there has been conversations about possibly appointing Jeff Holland of Medina County as the special prosecutor to help push cases forward.
“They are specialized and there’s a lot that goes into them,” she explained. “We always would appreciate someone who is an expert in the field.”
jpatterson@mariettatimes.com
A 24-year-old Fleming man was recently sentenced on a 2018 assault of a Marietta peace officer charge.
Quinton Hart was scheduled to appear for a change of plea and sentencing hearing in Washington County Common Pleas Judge John Halliday’s courtroom today, but Halliday’s bailiff confirmed Monday that’s no longer necessary.
“He already (pleaded) and was sentenced,” explained Renee Marshall.
Hart was initially indicted during the backlog sweeps in the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Washington County Prosecutor Nicole Coil in 2019.
Hart was indicted on one count of assault on a peace officer, a fourth-degree felony. The indictment stems from an arrest in October 2018 when Hart assaulted an officer of the Marietta Police Department.
mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com
The Washington County Board of Commissioners voted to purchase monitors for 19 lift stations in the county.
Commission President Kevin Ritter said the monitors are part of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.
“It’s a high-tech diagnostic tool that enables us to diagnose problems more cost effectively,” he said.
The SCADA will monitor the water flow through the sewer system’s 10 sites to make sure there are no issues.
Ritter added the $66,500 cost of the upgrade will not be taken out of the sewer fund, but from the capital improvements fund.
“This is not going to cost sewer customers directly,” he explained.