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NEW CUMBERLAND -- A Weirton woman who allegedly tried to burn an acquaintance's home down when he wasn't home was among the 10 people indicted earlier this week in the January term of the Hancock County grand jury.
Amanda Rose Lemasters, 338 Finance Road, Weirton, was ordered to stand trial for burglary (entry of a dwelling) and first-degree arson, Prosecutor Steven E. Dragisich said.
Lemasters, 35, allegedly turned up at a Dominic Drive residence where she'd stayed previously and when the owner wasn't there, "made multiple calls" from the property claiming emergency situations that officers said turned out to be false, and in her last call told them "she was going to start breaking windows and catch his house on fire." When they arrived, police "reported the kitchen was on fire, windows were busted out and the back door was ajar" but firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze. Also indicted were:
-- Thomas Graham Douglas Bernosky II, 29, Laughlintown, Pa., wanton endangerment involving a firearm. Authorities allege Bernosky was in the back seat of a pickup truck outside of the Oasis Club in Weirton, fiddling with a gun while the driver talked to some people before leaving and the gun discharged, striking the driver in her right bicep.
-- William J. Hart, 36, 20 Joann Court, New Cumberland, first-degree robbery.
Authorities said a woman having car trouble told them she'd called Hart for help, but when he arrived he "for some reason hit her in the head and took off" with her possessions.
-- Jason William Altman, 661 Brickyard Bend, New Cumberland, entry of a building other than a dwelling and petit larceny.
Authorities allege Altman, 44, broke into Manuel's Dry Cleaning in Weirton and stole personal property belonging to the owner. Officers reported finding Altman inside the building "and several trash bags with the business owner's personal property hidden around back" they say he planned to pawn.
-- Cameron C. Miller, 32, 15705 Annesley Road, East Liverpool, burglary (entry of a dwelling) and destruction of property.
Miller allegedly broke into a trailer "and trashed the place, breaking windows, the sink and toilet" and other items, authorities said.
-- Charles Joseph Mack, 254 Glendale Road, Newell, driving while license is suspended or revoked for driving under the influence, third or subsequent offense.
Mack, 51, has multiple prior convictions for driving on a revoked license, "and was still revoked when he was pulled over," authorities said.
-- Santee A. Baumgarner, 25, 332 Dinsmore Ave., East Liverpool, fleeing in a vehicle from a law enforcement officer with reckless indifference.
Authorities allege Baumgarner led them on a high-speed chase into Ohio, weaving his motorcycle in and out of traffic, when police tried to pull him over for speeding.
Three others were indicted on drug charges after allegedly selling Schedule II controlled substances to confidential informants:
-- Gene Brandon Wright, 41, 421 Coolidge St., Newell, delivery of methamphetamine.
-- Roslyn M. Galloway, 38, 606 First St., Newell, delivery of fentanyl.
-- Brandon Eugene Mayhew, 36, 105 National Road, Weirton, delivery of fentanyl.
All three cases were investigated by the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force.