Crank sentenced to prison on burglary charges

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Jessica Crank

by Aaron Gibson Dec 23, 2015

The first person to be sentenced in an alleged burglary group that may have spanned three counties was handed a two year prison sentence Thursday, Dec 17 in Brown County Court of Common Pleas.

Jessica Crank of Mount Orab pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree felony burglary and received a two-year prison sentence, credited with 51 days for jail time already served.

As part of her sentence, Crank will be subject to a mandatory three years of post release control upon completion of her time in prison.

Crank is one of four indicted in a group suspected of being behind thirty or more burglaries in Brown, Clermont and Clinton Counties, according to detectives.

However, she has only been linked to a single burglary in Brown County.

According to the indictment, Jessica Crank, along with her husband Brian Crank, allegedly stole cash and a Smith and Wesson 9 mm handgun from victims Todd and Christa Cook on Oct 23. A probable cause affidavit filed in Brown County Municipal Court says the two were identified as suspects after video recovered from a surveillance system appeared to show the two committing the crime. The affidavit further accuses the two of removing the DVR box for the camera system and disposing of it along the railroad tracks behind the victim’s home on Hess Road in Pike Township, where it was found by the victims.

Jessica and Brian Crank were former tenants of a property owned by the victims, according to the affidavit.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Brown County Municipal Court, on Oct 26, Todd Cook, a victim in the burglary, allegedly solicited or procured Doug Watson to assault Jessica and Brian Crank. Both Cranks were transported to Mt. Orab Mercy Hospital upon being attacked shortly after midnight, according to court records.

Cook was charged with two counts of second-degree felony complicity to assault and Watson charged with two counts of second-degree felony assault. On Dec 1, the two pleaded guilty in Municipal Court to one count of first-degree misdemeanor assault and received a sentence of a suspended 180 days in jail, one year probation and 80 hours community service. Both must also undergo anger management classes and avoid contact with Jessica and Brian Crank.

Brian Crank is expected in court for a pre-trial hearing on Dec 29 in Brown County Court of Common Pleas. He was indicted in November on five counts of second-degree felony burglary, three counts of third-degree felony grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, three counts of fifth-degree felony theft, one count of fourth-degree felony safecracking, one count of fourth-degree felony theft from a person in a protected class, three counts of fifth-degree felony theft, one count of fifth-degree felony receiving stolen property, and one count of first-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Crank also has been indicted on similar charges in Clermont County Court of Common Pleas.

A plea/trial hearing is expected on Jan 11, 2016 in Brown County Court of Common Pleas for accused burglary group member Jeffery Carlier. He was indicted in November on seven counts of second-degree felony burglary, three counts of fifth-degree felony theft, one count of fourth-degree felony safecracking, two counts of fourth-degree felony theft from a person in a protected class, two counts of third-degree felony theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, one count of fourth-degree felony receiving stolen property, and one count of first-degree felony engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Carlier also has been indicted on similar charges in Clermont County Court of Common Pleas.

The final member identified as a suspected member of the burglary group, Sherry Carlier, was indicted Oct 29 in Clermont County Court of Common Pleas on one count of third-degree felony tampering with evidence. She is expected to be sentenced Jan 4, 2016, according to court records.

Clinton County has not yet indicted any members of the group, where detectives believe they may have committed an additional four burglaries.

–Published in The Brown County Press Volume 43 No. 21

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Mt. Orab couple accused of stealing minivan

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by Aaron Gibson, Editor, Dec 24, 2015

A Mount Orab couple are under arrest accused of stealing a minivan from the parking lot of a Family Dollar.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Brown County Municipal Court, Michael Wayne Liming and Valerie Ann Wachter allegedly stole a 1997 Dodge Caravan parked outside of the Mt. Orab Family Dollar on Tuesday, Dec 22, and shortly after attempted to ditch it near Lake Grant just outside of the village limits.

The victim told Mount Orab Police the van had been stolen between 2:30 and 3:00 PM. Patrolman Justin Conley located the van parked by an access to Lake Grant at approximately 3:52 PM. Liming and Wachter were allegedly spotted walking away from the van, according to the affidavit.

Conley wrote that Liming had the keys to the van inside of his pocket when he found the two.

Both subjects were taken to be interviewed and allegedly admitted to the allegations, saying they were walking from the Kroger Marketplace to their place of residence at Greencrest Motel when they took the van. Conley quoted the two as saying they debated on the idea, and eventually decided to take the van because Liming’s back was hurting. According to court records, Liming allegedly drove with Wachter as the passenger.

Property allegedly stolen from the van was also recovered inside of Liming and Wachter’s room at the motel, the affidavit says.

Liming and Wachter each face one count of fourth-degree felony theft and are currently being held in the Butler County Jail per contract with Brown County. Bond has not yet been set.

—Brown County Crime Reporter Dec 24, 2015 12:53 AM EST

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Mother and son meth cooks sentenced to prison

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Samuel Tice

by Aaron Gibson, Editor, Dec 23, 2015

The first in a potential series of sentences to come for an alleged Brown County meth ring began with a mother and son being sent to prison Thursday, Dec 17.

Ten individuals total suspected of taking part in the accused meth ring have been indicted in Brown County Court of Common Pleas between November and December of this year.

Samuel Tice, the suspected ringleader of the group, was convicted on one count of first-degree felony illegal manufacturing of drugs and received the mandatory minimum of five years in prison, 12 months driver’s license suspension, and five years of post-release control. Additionally, it was ordered $3,300 in US currency will be forfeited to the Brown County Drug and Major Crimes Task Force.

The mother, Rebecca Tice, was convicted on one count of second-degree felony illegal manufacturing of drugs and received the mandatory minimum of three years in prison, 12-months driver’s license suspension, and three years of post-release control.

Ryan Campbell, the next set to appear in court for allegedly taking part in the meth ring, is expected to enter a plea on Dec 29.

According to records filed in Brown County Municipal Court, a search warrant was executed Oct 18 by Brown County Sheriff’s Office and Mount Orab Police on the Tice’s home at 114 Baylie Drive, Mount Orab. Law enforcement had been tracking the purchase of pseudoephedrine at the Mount Orab Kroger Marketplace, which lead them to Samuel and Rebecca Tice.

Pseudoephedrine is a chemical found in some cold medicines, and is commonly used as a precursor in clandestine meth manufacture.

Prior to the search warrant, Mount Orab Police received information the Tice’s home had two handguns, drug paraphernalia, 15 hits of LSD, a container with Coleman fuel, and a duffel bag with items used to manufacture methamphetamine, according to court records.

According to court records, Samuel Tice, Rebecca Tice and Ryan Campbell were inside the home during the search warrant. Law enforcement were able to successfully seize pseudoephedrine, drain cleaner, lithium batteries, lighter fluid, muriatic acid and plastic tubing.

All three were then transported to Brown County Sheriff’s Office and allegedly admitted to having a role in the meth ring.

A probable cause affidavit alleges Samuel Tice supposedly told investigators he had manufactured and sold methamphetamine for five years, Rebecca Tice supposedly told investigators she would receive a cut of the proceeds from the sales, and Campbell supposedly told investigators he would trade Samuel Tice pseudoepehedrine in exchange for methamphetamine.

As the investigation continued, an additional seven individuals would be indicted in December in connection with the meth ring.

The names and charges for the other seven indicted in the alleged Tice meth ring were included in a previous article by Brown County Crime Reporter, “44 indicted in three Brown County Meth Rings.”

—Brown County Crime Reporter Dec 23, 2015 2:11 AM EST

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