Alleged drug traffickers indicted in Ottawa County

An undercover investigation yielded multiple drug trafficking-related indictments for Ottawa County residents.

Three people were arrested as part of the investigation on Friday, according to a news release.

“We have an addiction issue in the county and throughout the state,” Ottawa County prosecutor James VanEerten said. “One issue is the prevalence and availability of drugs. We’re trying to hold those dealing the drugs as accountable as we can. We also want to charge people when they cause an overdose.”

Among those indicted:

• Cody Derrit, of the 6200 block of E. Harbor Road, Marblehead, was charged with two felony counts of drug trafficking and one misdemeanor count of theft. Derrit allegedly sold or offered to sell oxycodone and marijuana in December.

• Michael Wheeler, of the 300 block of Buckeye St., Port Clinton, was charged with one count of drug trafficking after he allegedly sold heroin to an undercover informant.

• Stacy Hale, of the 800 block of E. Third St., Port Clinton, was charged with one count of permitting drug abuse and three counts of child endangering after she allegedly allowed her home to be used for a drug trafficking location.

The investigation was conducted by the Ottawa County Drug Task Force with the assistance of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office and Port Clinton and Danbury police departments, according to a news release.

Additional indictments

An Ottawa County grand jury recently convened and indicted 14 other people with various charges, according to the release.

Among the others indicted:

• Donna Schrock, of the 100 block of S. Sunnydale St., Marblehead, was indicted on multiple felony theft charges, including theft from an elderly victim.

• Robert J. Garcia, who is held in the Ottawa County Jail, is facing charges of domestic violence, kidnapping, abduction, child endangering and disrupting public services.

• Brandyn Hurst, who is held in the Ottawa County Jail, was charged with one count each of felonious assault, child endangering and domestic violence.

• Joel D. Brown, Jr., with a last known address in Toledo, was charged with one count of failure to appear.

• Jordyn Beckhusen, who is held in the Ottawa County Jail, was indicted on charges of corrupting another with drugs, involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence.

• Michelle Appleton, of Vermilion, faces an assault charge, a fourth-degree felony.

• Lucy Castilleja, of the 300 block of Washington St., Genoa, was charged with two counts of felonious assault and two counts of aggravated assault.

• Jeremy J. Jackson, of the 300 block of Washington St., Genoa, was charged with two counts of felonious assault and two counts of aggravated assault.

• Cory R. Haeft, of the 21000 block of W. Toledo St., Williston, was indicted on one count of drug possession.

• Donald R. Phillips Jr., of the 400 block of Adams St., Port Clinton, faces four counts of drug possession and one count of possession of drug abuse instruments.

• Kasie A. Whitt, of the 500 block of E. Second St., Port Clinton, was charged with one count of drug possession.

• Deana Curry, of Lindsey, Ohio, was indicted on one count of drug possession.

• Michael King, of Lemon Road, Oak Harbor, was charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony.

• Dan Huegli, of Loveland, Wisc., was indicted on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and vehicular homicide.

An indictment is a formal charge and doesn’t denote guilt or innocence.