Indictments include sex-crime charges

By John W. Goodwin Jr.

Three men are charged with sex crimes against minors.

YOUNGSTOWN — A Mahoning County grand jury has indicted 25 people — four of whom are accused of sex crimes.

James Duffy, 51, of Sunset Drive, was indicted on two counts of kidnapping, felonious assault and attempted rape. He is in the county jail on $1 million bond.

Police say officers went to Duffy’s home in late May and were met at the door by a shirtless Duffy, who was zipping up his pants. Sitting on the floor crying behind Duffy was a 36-year-old Cambridge Avenue woman. The woman immediately began to beg officers for help.

The woman told police she stopped at the home looking for someone then had a drink with Duffy. She said Duffy refused to allow her to leave, punching her several times, then tried to forcibly have sex with her.

Three of the men indicted are accused of sexual activity with children.

John Chaffin, 27, of Fantale Street, Hanoverton, was indicted on a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. According to the indictment, Chaffin is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with a girl who was 14.

Joshua W. Dent, 18, of Goshen Road, Salem, was indicted for gross sexual imposition and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. The underage victim in the case against Dent is 12, according to the indictment.

Jose Sanchez, 59, of Pasadena Avenue was indicted on one count of rape. Sanchez, between January and February of this year, had sexual contact with a juvenile girl who was 10 at the time, according to the indictment.

Others indicted by the grand jury are:

UMelanie Rhodes, 52, of Forest Hill Drive, Poland, two counts of identity fraud.

UJames Feltner, 18, of Struthers Road, New Middleton, tampering with records, receiving stolen property, theft and forgery.

UGerald Womack, 27, of Clarencedale Avenue, illegally possessing a weapon, failure to comply with police orders and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle.

ULaquetta Carter, 28, of Clyde Street, felonious assault.

UJajuan McKeithen, 34, of Midlothian Boulevard, possession of cocaine with forfeiture specifications.

UBruce Dugic, 50, of Pritchard Ohltown Road, Newton Falls, illegally bringing weapons onto the grounds of a detention facility.

UKeith Ellison, 51, of East Pasadena Avenue, possession of cocaine.

UJames E. Menton, 22, of West Delason Avenue, robbery.

UTasha D. Torres, 25, of Bruce Street, possession of heroin.

UCrystal Johnson, also known as Crystal Showers, 25, of North Lane Avenue or Fairmont Avenue, assault and interference with custody.

UDennis Redeske Jr., 23, of Poland Avenue, Struthers, breaking and entering.

UKevin E. Bacher, 21, of Richland Avenue, possession of drugs and illegal possession of a weapon.

URocco Wellington, 29, of Hubbard Road, domestic violence and felonious assault.

ULouis Wood, 30, of West Chalmers Road, possession of heroin.

URandall Bennett Jr., 29, of Rhoda Avenue, felonious assault.

UBrian Benson, 38, of Trussit Avenue, two counts of possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and possession of drugs.

UMatt Smith, 30, of Chrysann Drive, Girard, for theft.

There also were four secret indictments.