Greenfield man charged with sex crimes in Highland County grand jury's June session
A Greenfield man indicted on six charges, including three counts of first-degree felony rape, was among the dozen indictments handed down by a Highland County grand jury in their Tuesday, June 4 session.
Zachary T. Jensen, 29, of Greenfield has been charged with three counts of rape, all first-degree felonies; two count of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, both third-degree felonies; and one count of gross sexual imposition, a third-degree felony.
The rape charges stem from alleged events in 2022, where Jensen is accused of “engaging in sexual conduct” with a victim under the age of 13.
The unlawful sexual conduct charges are for alleged events in 2023 and 2024, where it is alleged that Jensen “did engage in sexual conduct” with a juvenile under the age of 16.
The gross sexual imposition charge alleges that in 2020, Jensen “did have sexual contact” with a child under the age of 13.
In other indictments:
• Billy Ray Pate, 37, of Greenfield was charged with aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine, a third-degree felony; aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a third-degree felony; possession of cocaine, a fifth-degree felony; and possession of drugs, a first-degree misdemeanor.
It is alleged that on or about Oct. 10, Pate “did knowingly prepare for shipment, ship, transport, deliver, prepare for distribute or distribute,” and “knowingly obtained, possessed or used,” methamphetamine in an amount equal to or exceeding bulk amount but less than five times bulk amount. The trafficking charge alleges that Pate “knew or had reasonable cause to believe that the controlled substance was intended for sale or resale by the offender or another person.”
On the same date, it is alleged that Pate “knowingly obtained, possessed or used” cocaine and buprenorphine.
• Michael A. Newsome, 53, of Greenfield was charged with one count each of aggravated possession of methamphetamine and aggravated trafficking in methamphetamine, both third-degree felonies.
The indictment alleges that on or about Oct. 13, Newsome “did knowingly obtain, possess or use,” and “did knowingly prepare for shipment, ship, transport, deliver, prepare for distribute or distribute,” methamphetamine in an amount equal to or exceeding bulk amount but less than five times bulk amount. The trafficking charge alleges that Newsome “knew or had reasonable cause to believe that the controlled substance was intended for sale or resale by the offender or another person.”
• Todd L. Parr, 46, of Hillsboro was charged with failure to register a change of address as a registered sex offender, a third-degree felony.
It is alleged that “beginning on or about April 1 and continuing thereafter,” Parr “failed to provide notice of any change of address within 20 days by written notice, and was reckless in that regard.” According to the indictment, Parr has a previous conviction of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, as well as a prior conviction of failure to register a change of address as a registered sex offender.
• John Williamson Jr., 59, of Hillsboro was charged with failure to register a change of address as a registered sex offender, a third-degree felony.
The indictment alleges that “beginning on or about April 1 and continuing thereafter,” Williamson “failed to provide notice of any change of address within 20 days by written notice.” According to the indictment, Williamson was previously convicted of abduction.
• Austin W. Huffman, 31, of Albion, Ind. was charged with four counts of counterfeiting, all fourth-degree felonies.
All four charges are for incidents that allegedly occurred Dec. 18. It is alleged in two counts that Huffman “with the purpose to defraud, or knowing that he was facilitating a fraud, did pass, utter, sell, purchase, conceal or transfer a counterfeit obligation or other security of the United States.” In the other two charges, it is alleged that Huffman “did with the purpose to defraud or knowing that her was facilitating a fraud … possess with the purpose to utter any obligation or other security of the United States, knowing that the obligation or other security has been counterfeited.”
• Anthony Burns, 20, of Wilmington was charged with three counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, all fourth-degree felonies. Burns is accused of “engaging in sexual conduct” with a minor under the age of 16 during an approximate three-month period in 2023. Each count is for a different alleged one-month time span.
• Cory L. Fitch, 22, of Bainbridge was charged with one count of aggravated possession of methamphetamine and one count of possession of cocaine, both fifth-degree felonies.
• Ashleigh Thomas, 38, of Bethel was charged with one count of aggravated possession of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a fentanyl-related compound, both fifth-degree felonies.
• Rebecca L. Deer, 50, of Fairborn was charged with one count of aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.
• Jason L. Ledbetter, 42, of Greenfield, and Sonya R. Smith, 42, of Greenfield were jointly charged with one count of aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.
An indictment is merely a charge and is not evidence of guilt.
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