COLUMBIANA CO. 2 men to face child sex charges

A woman is charged with tampering with evidence in a child pornography case.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Two men accused of sexual crimes against children are among those served recently with secret indictments handed up by a Columbiana County grand jury.
Heath Pennell, 19, of East Vermont Street, Sebring, is charged with two counts of gross sexual imposition.
Pennell is accused of having sexual contact early this year with a boy and a girl, ages 8 and 10. He knew both children, said assistant county Prosecutor Tim McNicol.
Tony Hilton, 23, of Sugar Street, East Liverpool, is charged with gross sexual imposition.
Hilton is accused of having sexual contact in December with a 7-year-old girl he knew.
In other secret indictments, Joann Simms, 32, of Main Street, Wellsville, is charged with tampering with evidence.
Authorities allege that after Simms learned her husband, David, was being investigated by law enforcement, she removed items from two of her computers that may have included evidence in the case against her husband, McNicol said.
Afterward, in May, David Simms was indicted on 41 counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material and on six counts of having sexually oriented material involving minors.
Authorities say Simms possessed images taken from the Internet that portray minors who are nude or engaging in sex acts.
Additional indictments
Also served recently with secret indictments were:
UMary Thompson, 24, of Union Street, Columbiana, who is charged with forgery, receiving stolen property and identity fraud.
UCurtis Kidd, 19, U.S. 62, Salem, burglary.
UMarilyn Berdine, also known as Boyer, 40, Sixteen School Road, Wellsville, drug trafficking and prohibitions against the sale, distribution or delivery of dangerous drugs.
UWilliam Hornsby, 18, Metz Road, Columbiana, theft.