Hillsboro man, Seaman woman charged with endangering children, assault in November Highland County grand jury session
A joint indictment charging a Hillsboro man and Seaman woman with endangering children and assault was among the 18 indictments handed down by a Highland County grand jury Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Roy Hansford, 65, of Hillsboro, and Marilyn Gross, 65, of Seaman, were each charged with two counts of endangering children, a third-degree felony; and two counts of assault, a fourth-degree felony.
The charges are for two separate victims, with all four incidents alleged to have occurred “on or about the period of Aug. 1, 2023 through Sept. 1, 2024,” according to the indictment.
The endangering children charges allege that Hansford and Gross “repeatedly administered unwarranted disciplinary measures” to both victims “when there is a substantial risk that such conduct, if continued, will seriously impair … the child’s mental health or development.”
During the same time period, Hansford and Gross are accused of “knowingly causing or attempting to cause physical harm” to both victims.” In both instances, it is alleged that Hansford and Gross “were caretakers” and that the victims were “functionally impaired.”
As previously reported by Fox 19 and The Highland County Press, Hansford was a paraprofessional with Hillsboro City Schools and Gross was a substitute van driver for area districts, including Bright Local Schools. It was alleged that “functionally impaired students [were] being physically abused” and that “Hansford was recorded by an aide in training threatening to hit students with a fly swatter.”
In other indictments:
• Pearlee Newcomb, 37, 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 Sept. 11 and continuing thereafter,” Newcomb “failed to provide notice of his address within 20 days.” According to the indictment, Newcomb was previously convicted of gross sexual imposition (Adams County) as well as failure to register a change of address (in Highland County).
• Ronald Howland Jr., 50, of Greenfield was charged with possession of heroin, a fourth-degree felony.
• Tomie Showman, 41, of Washington Court House was charged with two counts of telecommunications harassment, a fifth-degree felony.
It is alleged that on or about between Sept. 17-18, Showman “did knowingly make or cause to be made a telecommunication” when the victim had ““previously told the caller not to make a telecommunication to those premises or to any persons at those premises.” The other charges accuses Showman of “making or causing a telecommunication to be made, or permitting a telecommunication to be made … with purpose to abuse, threaten or harass another person.”
• Randy Alexander Jr., 42, of Greenfield was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.
• Michelle Meddock, 50, of Hillsboro was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.
• James Williams IV, 43, of Beavercreek was charged with aggravated possession of methamphetamine, a fifth-degree felony.
In addition to these indictments, there were 10 sealed (secret) indictments handed down Tuesday, according to Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins.
An indictment is merely a charge and is not evidence of guilt.
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