The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/69825
A-2 Wednesday, June 13, 2012 The Press-Dispatch Jerrell guilty of child molesting was convicted of two counts of child molesting, a class A felony and two counts of sex- ual misconduct with a minor, a class B felony, last week in Pike Circuit Court. Adrian "Phillip" Jerrell, A rural Petersburg man By Andy Heuring to external damage at Yulin Cummins' residence at 1008 E. Trafzer St. Firemen said the fire apparently started in some trash under a carport at Petersburg firemen quickly extinguished a fire Monday afternoon limiting it Fire damages Petersburg home the side of the house. It caught siding on fire and started up the wall, but fire- men were able to stop the fire before it spread any farther. Firemen said when they arrived Petersburg Police Cpl. Scott Wright was there spraying a neighbor's garden hose on it, which also helped contain the fire reported at 2:17 p.m. H Attrition, costs claim Jaycees club the Little League Park, the old football field and then the 4-H Fairgrounds. It also changed dates from Continued from page 1 lot of other things than the Catfish Festival including the Christmas parade, Eas- ter Egg Hunt and putting out flags on Main St. at hol- idays and giving scholar- ships. The Caftish Festival was the key to all of it. "That was our main fundraiser. It is what funded all the rest of the things we did." Because they weren't go- the Wednesday after Labor Day to late August. While the Jaycees do a attending spent. Compe- tition from other festivals and Holiday World also hurt them. "We heard people say why would I spend money on rides here, when we can just go to Holiday World." She said another factor cause I wanted to help out the community and be a part of it," said Houchin. Barber said even though is ride companies are fewer and farther between. Many of the smaller companies have gone out of business and the larger companies were hard to book. Another factor was their ing to be able to have a Cat- fish Festival the club also de- cided to disband. She said the Catfish Fes- tival has been under pres- sure for several years from similar things as everyone else faces. She cited a poor economy that reduced atten- dance and how much those nizable to kids for years, because he played the Eas- ter Bunny at the Easter Egg hunts said he is going to miss the events. He joined the Jaycees 19 years ago. "I did it just be- rising costs. "The cost of fish and what we have to pay for things went up a lot. It is hard to raise our prices that much, so it cut into what we were able to make. Houchin, who is recog- what money was left over for scholarships and give the rest to Somebody's Place. In a letter to the edi- they are disbanding as a club they intend to put up the American flags on holi- days. She said the Veterans of Foreign Wars purchased new flags for them. Tthe club voted to use Darrin McDonald told the jury during opening argu- ments that began at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, that Jer- rell was a sexual predator, who over months and years "sexually groomed" a pre- teen boy into having sex with him. The trial lasted on- ly three hours before it went to the jury and the jury re- turned a guilty verdict on all four counts after about an hour of deliberation. A 19-year-old man around 46, could be sentenced up to 140 years on the four charg- es at his at 1 p.m. hearing Tuesday, June 26 in Pike Cir- cuit Court. Pike County Prosecutor whom the case revolved told the court he first met Jer- rell, who is the son of a min- ister, when he was invited to a youth group at Knights Chapel Church. He said Jer- rell, who at the time was in his mid-30s, was "fun to be around" and "he became a close friend." He told the court Jerrell tor the Jaycess wrote: "We would like to thank the local businesses and community members that have support- ed us through the years at all of our projects. We have worked hard to make the Pe- tersburg community a bet- ter place to live. Our lega- cy will live on through the many community leaders we have helped develop over the years. H Winslow clarifies adjustment rule Continued from page 1 Phil Taylor said a State Fire Marshal found a candle in the floor. "He said it was ei- ther the candle or a cigarette that started it." Taylor said Phillips told him when he found Foust minutes. Petersburg Fire Chief unconscious she was sitting in the floor with her back against the couch. "He (Phillips) did a heck of a job. He didn't just reach in and pull her out. He had to crawl into the house to get her," said Taylor. Deputy Meadors said po- lice found long guns in the residence Foust shared with Corey Benefiel, who had previously been convicted of a felony. Meadors said because of the felony convic- tion, it is illegal for Benefiel to possess guns. He was cit- ed on preliminary charges. H July 4th adds Horse challenge Continued from page 1 pull, which is sanctioned by the Ohio River Valley Pull- ers Association. The classes this year are 6000 light lim- ited super stock tractors; 8000 2.6 diesel 4x4 trucks, 9,500 light limited pro-hot farm tractors and 9300 su- per farm tractors. Fireworks will start at dark on Wednesday night. Thursday, July 5: Thursday night the midway per Horse Challenge is set for 6 p.m. Friday. It will fea- ture a series of horse riding competitions that include: a time trail class, poles, pony express, one man sorting and one man penning. The winner will be determined will open at 4 p.m. The fea- tured event will be another truck and tractor pull with the same classes. Friday, July 6: The Su- by a points system. Riders can compete for $40 per horse and rider with riders allowed to enter more than one horse. It is sponsored by the Pike Firecracker demolition der- by is set for 7 p.m. followed by a raffle drawing at 9 p.m. County Saddle Club. Admis- sion is $3 for adults and chil- dren under three are free. Saturday, July 7: The months Jerrell started to show him pornographic magazines. During a taped interview took him ATV riding and on camp-outs. He said he even- tually started working with Jerrell on odd jobs such as cleaning up debris from peo- ple's yards. The boy lived with his grandfather who was blind and couldn't drive, and his grandfather paid Jer- rell to drive the boy. He said after about six a built-in DVD player and show them porn videos. Another teen, Trevor Church testified he occa- sionally attended the cam- pouts and Jerrell showed porn videos. Church said there were no other adults than Jerrell at the campouts. Under questioning, Church said he didn't ever remem- ber Jerrell taking his clothes off. "truth or dare" a couple of times. Prosecutor McDonald He said Jerrell did play claimed Jerrell used the por- nography to gradually build up to coercing the boy into having sex with him. Often, McDonald would I felt like I deserved some- thing," said the boy. McDonald repeatedly ref- pose would cause you hold up the boy's fifth grade picture to show the jury while talking about a man in his mid- and late-30s hav- ing a sexual relationship with the boy. "You were not the man people see in the witness stand today were you?" asked McDonald. He said he was in the fifth grade when he started. McDon- ald showed the jury his fifth grade picture of the boy who was small for his age. He said while they worked together on odd jobs Jerrell would show him pornogra- phy. "Was it everyday?" asked rell was asked in the inter- view if he had sex with a 12-year-old boy he didn't say "No, absolutely not. He said, 'Not to my knowledge. Not that I can remember. The only reason to give that answer is because you can't categorically deny it." What do sup- adult to give his whole paycheck to a 15-year- old? What would be so terrible you would give your whole paycheck to a 15-year-old?" asked McDonald. Verkamp in his closing an Adrian Jerrell McDonald. "It was more like three months after Jerrell start- ed showing him porn he be- gan having sex. He said the sex acts came about through a series of "truth and dare" games. He said they had sex "too or four times a day," said the boy. He said Jerrell kept porn under the seat of his pickup truck. The boy said about six with State Police Detec- tive Tobias Odom that was played for the court, Jerrell admitted he showed the ad- olescent porn. The admis- sion came when Det. Odom asked Jerrell if he showed the magazines and porn vid- eos to the boy. "Yeah, but he said he had already been watching it," said Jerrell. He said the boy's sister had satellite tele- vision and he was seeing it there. The boy said Jerrell would lice until after he became de- pressed last summer and it just came out when he was talking with his father. His father decided to call police. Jerrell's attorney, Nathan many times to remember." He said he did tell the po- on count I the victim had to be less than 15 years of age for Jerrell to be guilty. He said the boy's own words showed they couldn't prove he was less than 15. When asked how old he was then they started having anal sex the boy said 14 or 15 then said maybe 13. Verkamp told the jury said it wasn't enough to show the defendant is "prob- ably guilty." Verkamp also argued that have nearly weekly cam- pouts behind the church and several young boys would at- tend. "It wasn't necessarily a church campout. It was just Phillip having a campout," said the boy. He said Jerrell would run an extension cord from the church to their tent and bring out a television with a recording of that inter- view with the boy saying he blackmailed Jerrell. The boy admitted he was blackmailing Jerrell to the point that he took all of Jer- rell's paycheck one time. Prosecutor McDonald me." "I didn't have anything. Verkamp cross-examined the boy, asking if he ever said he was blackmailing Jerrell to Det. Odom. The boy said he didn't remem- ber saying that to Odom. Verkamp then played Donald asked, "If someone came to you and accused you of molesting a child, how long would it take for you to say no." McDonald also refer- enced the interview tape where Jerrell said the boy would try to "kiss around on him" and said he "tried to put his tongue in his mouth." "Can you imagine anyone guilty unless you are willing to convict on speculation. . . Tonight when you go home and you have rendered a not guilty verdict you will sleep well," said Verkamp. In his final remarks, Mc- Jerrell was a simple man. He said teen boys could be mean and the boy was black- mailing Jerrell. "He had him right where he wanted him," said Verkamp. "You must find him not erenced Jerrell's responses to Det. Odom's question dur- ing a taped interview. He pointed out when Jer- getting a tongue in your mouth if you didn't want them to get a tongue in your mouth?" asked McDonald. He said it is only reason- then asked the boy why he was blackmailing Jerrell. "Because he molested able that the boy is telling the truth and Jerrell is lying. The jury believed the boy and returned a guilty verdict on all charges in less than 60 minutes of deliberation. H Winslow clarifies adjustment rule Continued from page 1 council to their promise late last year to review Dep- uty Town Marshal Steve Nel- son's wage scale at mid-year. "I'd like to see him get sure they could get a sign put up prohibiting vehicles in the shelter house at Riv- erside park in Winslow. Bennett also alerted the something. He was the only one to not get a raise. He has done a good job and he is al- ways helping out working on the vehicles and doing main- tenance," said Town Mar- shal Steve English. "If we have the money, I would like to see us use it for someone who does his job right," said Glendel "Buck" Ashby. Tisdale said Nelson was Treasurer Bennett asked if she could get an updat- ed fire department roster. getting paid $92.75 per shift he worked. He suggested they up it to $100 per shift. It received a 3-0 vote. In other business, Clerk- "There were probably some people who got paid, who shouldn't have," said Ben- nett. She said the town pret- ty much just went by what the fire chief presented to her as the fire department roster. "I'm just telling you they have been questioned." Fire Chief Nelson said he would get her an updat- ed roster. Councilmen also paid the claims of $33,267.02. The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, June 25. from July 4 to 7. Jeff Nelson uses a bucket truck to hang the banner on Sun- day afternoon. 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