The Free Press Standard, January 30, 2020

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C o n t i n u i n g To P r o u d l y S e r v e C a r r o l l C o u n t y S i n c e 1 8 3 1 $1.00

Thursday, January 30, 2020

freepressstandard.com

Lee found guilty on charges involving child pornography

Stark coroner releases Sikon’s cause of death

By NANCY SCHAAR FPS Correspondent

By NANCY SCHAAR FPS Correspondent

Gary Lee, Jr., age 46, of Carrollton, went to trial Monday, Jan. 27, on two second-degree felony counts of pandering sexually-oriented material involving a minor and two third-degree felony counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor. Twelve jurors plus two alternates were seated, and Lee pled not guilty before Carroll County Common Pleas Judge Michael V. Repella II. County Prosecutor Steven Barnett presented evidence that included photographs printed from a SD card found during a search of Lee’s living quarters at his parents’ house on Jasmine Road. Captain Robert Watson of the Carroll County Sheriff’s department said that he and other officers executed the search warrant in April 2019. “It was in the basement, in a finished basement. There was a wash room, pantry, bathroom, and the rest was an open area,” said Watson. Digital devices were

The Stark County coroner has released preliminary findings regarding the death of Robert Sikon III. The coroner determined that Sikon died as a result of multiple gun shot wounds to the upper part of his body. The initial toxicology report shows that Sikon had “acute methamphetamines” in his system. Sikon died Saturday, November 16, at the intersection of state Route 171 and Arrow Road in New Harrisburg during a traffic stop. A Carroll County sheriff deputy was investigating an earlier accident when he recognized Sikon as a passenger in a vehicle being driven by a female on state Route 171 shortly before noon.

See LEE, PG. 3

Aware that there were outstanding warrants for Sikon, the deputy followed the truck and indicated for the driver to pull over. The driver pulled over and placed her hands out of the window of the vehicle as directed by the deputy. Sikon also put his hands out of the window but then allegedly dropped something back into the vehicle. After being removed from the vehicle, Sikon allegedly struggled with the deputy, who was trying to place handcuffs on him. Despite continued warnings, Sikon continued the struggle and attempted to flee. The deputy allegedly told Sikon several times to stop or he would shoot. Sikon refused and was shot by the deputy. According to Sheriff Dale Williams, the deputy remains on administrative leave from the sheriff’s department.

FPS Photo / Nancy Schaar

Gary Lee Jr. faced the camera while waiting for Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Repella to enter the courtroom Monday. Lee was on trial for pandering sexually-oriented material involving a minor and pandering obscenity involving a minor.

Carrollton man found guilty of attempted murder By JORDAN MILLER FPS Sports Editor Arthur S. Ginier III, 41, of Carrollton, was found guilty Monday, Jan. 27, of multiple charges, including attempted murder, in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court. Ginier was involved in a stabbing last August in Dover and charged with felonious assault and two counts of grand theft auto. As part of an agreement with the Tuscarawas County prosecutor’s office, he changed his plea

from not guilty to no contest. Common Pleas Judge Edward O’Farrell dismissed Ginier’s charge of aggravated robbery in exchange for the plea. He is set for sentencing on March 19. Ginier will serve at least seven years with a possibility of 10.5 years maximum for the combined charges. He will remain in the county jail without bond until his sentencing. It is alledged that Ginier and his codefendent, Kimberly D. Jarvis, 35, of Uhrichsville, stabbed a 23-year-old man while stealing his truck on Aug. 25, 2019. The truck was later found abandoned.

ARTHUR S. GINIER III FPS Photo / Don Rutledge

Second Street closed for courthouse work

Second Street Southeast in Carrollton was closed Tuesday afternoon so crews working on the courthouse could move a large crane on to the street. This allowed crews to be lifted to the courthouse roof to plug the chimneys.

Carrollton council looks at ambulance providers By NANCY SCHAAR FPS Correspondent

FPS Photo / Kimberly Lewis

Preparing for Boy Scout Troop 141’s annual ham dinner and silent auction are (from left) Carter Zeedyk, Cooper Becknell, Richard Johnson, Landon Brown, Wryden Prinkey, Wrysen Prinkey, Graden Cook and Marcus Colvin. The dinner will be held 4:30-7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, in the Carrollton Elementary cafeteria.

Tickets on sale now for Troop’s annual ham dinner Feb. 17 Tickets are on sale now for Boy Scout Troop 141’s annual ham dinner and silent auction planned for Presidents’ Day, Feb. 17. Scouts will be serving the meal 4:30-7 p.m. at the Carrollton Elementary School cafeteria, formerly the high school, 252 Third St. S.E., Carrollton. The menu feautres ham, scalloped potatoes, creme corn, dessert, bread and butter and a drink. The cost is $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 4-12.

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Tickets may be purchased from any scout, at the door or at Betty Kaye’s Bakery. Scouts will also be selling tickets at Sanders’ Market, Discount Drug Mart and Tractor Supply Country on Saturday, Feb. 1 and 8, from 9 a.m. to noon. In addition to the meal, there will be more than 50 items in the silent auction. Proceeds from the event will be used to fund the scouts’ camping trips and projects.

classified pg. 11

obits pg. 4

Former village council member Andy Gonda questioned Mayor William Stoneman at Carrollton Village Council’s Jan. 27 meeting, about two work sessions that were held recently regarding a possible ambulance contract with another department. Gonda said that in order for the village to join with Quad Ambulance, they would have to charge the same amount that Quad does for service. Gonda said Quad has a five mill levy that pays for those services. “The law says that you can’t bring them here from their district without being five mills the same as theirs. Personally, I prefer free ambulance service and not $500 in taxes a year. They have two ambulances. That’s it,” said Gonda. Stoneman told Gonda that two work sessions were held and the subject came up. “We’re at baby steps here. We don’t know where this is going. This could die on the vine,” said Stoneman. Stoneman continued to say that they could have a town hall meeting and they will listen to the people. Stoneman said they would do what is right for the people of the village. Ken Joseph of EMT Ambulance Service was also in attendance and con-

opinion pg. 4

firmed that he has a contract with the village to provide emergency services. Joseph currently maintains two emergency trucks in the village of Carrollton and plans on adding an additional unit in the near future. He asked if there was a problem with his service and stated he has not received any complaints. Stoneman, village administrator Mark Wells, and council members said they did not know there was a contract for service with Joseph. Gonda told council that the contract was signed when he previously served for nine years on council. Joseph explained it was a continuing five-year contract and said he will provide a copy of the contract for the mayor, Wells and council members. Following further discussion, Stoneman set the next work session for Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. in village hall. Joseph was asked to attend this work session. In other business council: - APPROVED promoting Ben Palmer to assistant street superintendent with a $1 an hour pay increase. There will be a 90-day probation period. - APPROVED pay increases for employees at the rate 50 cents per hour. - AUTHORIZED a contract with Engineers and Associates for fieldwork and detailed design for water line replacement projects on Garfield and McKinley avenues.

sports pg. 7


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