In recent court news, a Washington Court House man admitted to stealing a wallet while scratching off lottery tickets at a local gas station; a Lawrenceville, Ga. man was charged after reportedly having more than 200 grams of marijuana in Fayette County; and a local man is facing felony charges for allegedly not supporting his children.
The following people have appeared recently in the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas:
—Brian S. Lewis plead guilty June 26 to theft, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
On Feb. 4, 2016, a customer at the Marathon Flagway store near Highland Avenue and State Route 41 had paid for items but then forgot his wallet on the counter.
According to reports, another man was standing at the store’s counter scratching off lottery tickets. This man, later identified as Brian S. Lewis, 47, saw the wallet, put it under his shirt and left the store. According to the reports, at the time of the incident there were three debit cards, miscellaneous gift cards, two credit cards, a driver’s license, a key card to Washington City Schools, and about $700 cash inside the wallet.
Reports state the wallet was later found on South Water Street and was returned to the rightful owner with about $700 cash missing. The store’s video surveillance was reviewed and Lewis was identified in the video as being the person who took the wallet. The officer handling the case interviewed Lewis who admitted to taking the wallet, removing the money and throwing the wallet out of the window. Lewis is scheduled to be sentenced July 17 at 8:30 a.m.
—Jason R. Smith of Lawrenceville, Ga., was arraigned May 5 on one charge of possession of marijuana, a fifth-degree felony.
The indictment alleges Smith, 48, was in possession of more than 200 grams but less than 1,000 grams of marijuana while in Fayette County. He was released from jail on his own recognizance June 19 after appearing in the court. His next hearing is scheduled for Monday at 9 a.m.
—Daniel K. Ruth of Washington Court House was arraigned June 26 on two charges of non-support of dependents, each a fifth-degree felony.
The indictment alleges Ruth, 33, failed to pay support for a period between May 1, 2013 and April 30, 2015 and again between May 1, 2015 and April 30, 2017. The indictment alleges the non-payment of support occurred for a period of 26 weeks out of 104 consecutive weeks. Ruth’s next court hearing is July 24 at 9 a.m.
