Grand Jury Indicts Two Columbus Men on 61 Combined Felony Counts in Fin Feather Fur Gun Theft
Dawson and Henry each face 27 first-degree felony firearm-theft charges following alleged 130-mph pursuit; Henry also indicted for having weapons while under disability
ASHLAND — Two Columbus men accused of stealing 27 firearms from Fin Feather Fur Outfitters and leading Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers on a multi-county pursuit have now been indicted on a combined 61 felony charges.
An Ashland County grand jury returned a 30-count indictment against Martell Lamont Dawson, 25, and a 31-count indictment against Andez Tyrese Henry, 18.
The indictments were filed Thursday, Aug. 13, in Ashland County Common Pleas Court and dramatically expand the cases against the two men.
Dawson and Henry were originally charged by complaint with two offenses each: failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and receiving stolen property involving 27 guns valued at $16,938.74.
The grand jury has now charged each defendant with a separate first-degree felony for every firearm allegedly taken from Fin Feather Fur.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Metcalf signed both indictments. The investigating agency is identified as the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Dawson Faces 30 Felony Counts
Dawson, whose case is filed as 26-CRI-134, was indicted on:
One count of failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony.
Twenty-seven counts of grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, all first-degree felonies.
One count of breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony.
One count of receiving stolen property involving two motor vehicles, a fourth-degree felony.
The indictment alleges Dawson willfully fled from a police officer after receiving a visible or audible signal to stop and operated the vehicle in a manner that created a substantial risk of serious physical harm to people or property.
Because the alleged pursuit traveled through several jurisdictions, the indictment says the failure-to-comply offense occurred in Ashland, Richland, Morrow and Delaware counties.
Henry Faces 31 Felony Counts
Henry, whose case is filed as 26-CRI-132, faces the same 30 charges as Dawson, along with an additional weapons charge.
Henry was indicted on:
One count of failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony.
Twenty-seven counts of grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, all first-degree felonies.
One count of breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony.
One count of having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony.
One count of receiving stolen property involving two motor vehicles, a fourth-degree felony.
Henry’s additional weapons-under-disability charge alleges he knowingly acquired, possessed, carried or used a firearm after previously being adjudicated a delinquent child for an offense that would have constituted a felony offense of violence if committed by an adult.
According to the indictment, Henry was adjudicated delinquent in Franklin County Common Pleas Court on April 5, 2023, for robbery, an offense identified in the filing as a second-degree felony if committed by an adult. The prior case number is listed as 22JU-8146.
That allegation is the reason Henry faces one more count than Dawson.
One First-Degree Felony for Each Gun
Counts Two through Twenty-Eight of both indictments address the 27 firearms individually.
Each count identifies a particular firearm by manufacturer, model and serial number. The weapons listed in the indictments include:
Fourteen Glock firearms.
Seven Smith & Wesson firearms.
Two Springfield firearms.
Two Ruger firearms.
One Heckler & Koch firearm.
One Kimber firearm.
The collection includes multiple 9mm handguns, two 10mm handguns, a Kimber Custom LW45 and several Glock, Smith & Wesson, Springfield and Ruger models.
The indictments allege Dawson and Henry acted with the purpose of depriving Fin Feather Fur of the guns.
Henry’s indictment alleges he knowingly obtained or exerted control over the firearms without the consent of the owner or someone authorized to give consent.
Dawson’s indictment uses a slightly different statutory theory, alleging he knowingly obtained or exerted control over the firearms beyond the scope of the owner’s express or implied consent.
Each count also contains an allegation that the gun was stolen from a federally licensed firearms dealer. That allegation elevates each individual grand-theft count to a first-degree felony under the Ohio Revised Code provision cited in the indictments.
The grand jury’s decision follows comments Assistant Prosecutor Laura Stanley made during the defendants’ initial bond hearings.
At those hearings, Stanley told the court that prosecutors would probably seek a sentence involving each of the 27 guns. She said the defendants could face approximately 80 years in prison based on the firearms alone.
The newly filed indictments show prosecutors followed through by presenting 27 separate first-degree felony firearm-theft counts against each man.
Any possible sentence would ultimately depend on the outcome of the cases, including whether either defendant is convicted, whether any offenses merge for sentencing and whether a judge orders any prison terms to run concurrently or consecutively.
Breaking-and-Entering Charges Added
Both defendants are now charged with breaking and entering.
The indictments allege Dawson and Henry used force, stealth or deception to trespass inside the unoccupied Fin Feather Fur building with the purpose of committing a felony.
The alleged offense is charged as a fifth-degree felony.
The breaking-and-entering counts were not included in the original two-count complaints filed immediately after the arrests.
Two Stolen Hyundai Elantras Named in Indictments
The receiving-stolen-property counts concern two vehicles allegedly connected to the burglary and pursuit:
A red 2013 Hyundai Elantra with Ohio license plate.
A 2018 Hyundai Elantra with North Carolina license plate.
Prosecutors allege Dawson and Henry received, retained or disposed of the vehicles while knowing or having reasonable cause to believe they had been obtained through a theft offense.
Because the property involved motor vehicles, each receiving-stolen-property charge is classified as a fourth-degree felony.
One vehicle was reportedly discovered disabled at Fin Feather Fur. The second was allegedly used during the Interstate 71 pursuit.
Burglary Alarm Sounded Shortly Before 1:40 A.M.
The investigation began at approximately 1:39 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3, when an alarm company reported activity at Fin Feather Fur Outfitters, located at 652 U.S. Route 250 East.
The alarm showed activity around the store’s east main entrance, upstairs windows and east archery area. Dispatchers described it as a verified intrusion signal.
Ashland County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched at approximately 1:40 a.m., and the first deputy arrived minutes later. The Ashland Police Division was also sent to assist.
Deputies reported finding broken glass after arriving.
The Sheriff’s Office later used a drone to search the large building as deputies cleared the structure and checked for anyone who might still be inside.
While authorities processed the store, they found a stolen Hyundai that appeared to have been involved in a crash while attempting to enter the Fin Feather Fur property.
Dispatch records stated that the vehicle was heavily damaged after its driver allegedly missed the driveway and crashed. Authorities also reported that a vehicle’s ignition had been torn out and the vehicle had been hotwired.
Trooper Initially Observed Speed and Cellphone Violations
During the initial bond hearings, Stanley said an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper identified in court as Trooper Brazy observed a vehicle traveling south on Interstate 71.
According to Stanley, the trooper saw the driver talking on a cellphone and pulled out to catch up with the vehicle.
A speed check allegedly showed the Hyundai traveling approximately 86 mph in a 70-mph zone before the trooper activated his emergency lights and siren.
Stanley said the vehicle then accelerated to approximately 120 mph.
Troopers subsequently learned that the Hyundai had been reported stolen.
Multiple initial attempts to deploy stop sticks were unsuccessful.
As the pursuit continued, dispatchers notified troopers about the breaking and entering at Fin Feather Fur and the possibility that the fleeing vehicle was connected to the Ashland burglary.
Pursuit Allegedly Reached 130 MPH
Stanley said the vehicle reached speeds approaching 130 mph while heading toward an active Interstate 71 construction zone where workers were present.
Other troopers began clearing workers from the area in an effort to keep them safe.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Aviation Section assisted with the pursuit and located the vehicle near Interstate 71’s 135-mile marker.
Another stop-stick deployment in the construction area was successful. The vehicle eventually crashed near the 126-mile marker, according to the prosecutor’s account.
Stanley described the pursuit as covering approximately 59 miles through Ashland, Richland, Morrow and Delaware counties.
The newly filed indictments allege each defendant operated the fleeing vehicle. During his original bond hearing, however, Dawson disputed the allegation that he had been the driver.
“My paperwork says somebody else was driving, but y’all saying I was driving,” Dawson told the court. “It literally says in my paperwork the driver was wearing a black hoodie. I didn’t have no black hoodie when I came in here.”
The court advised Dawson that the hearing was being conducted to establish bond, not decide the truth of the allegations, and instructed him to discuss the issue with his attorney.
Two Bags Allegedly Contained 27 Guns and a Taser
Stanley said both occupants ran after the vehicle crashed but were subsequently located and taken into custody.
Troopers reportedly found one bag beside the vehicle containing 14 firearms. Stanley said those guns still had Fin Feather Fur tags attached.
A second bag reportedly contained another 13 firearms and a Taser.
Authorities reported recovering all 27 firearms allegedly taken from the business.
The initial complaints placed the combined value of the firearms at $16,938.74.
Prosecutor Sought $500,000 Cash Bonds
During the original hearings, Stanley asked the court to set a $500,000 cash bond for each defendant.
She cited the number of firearms, the length and speed of the pursuit, the construction workers allegedly placed in danger and the defendants’ reported histories.
While arguing for Henry’s bond, Stanley told the court he had a 2022 adjudication or conviction involving receiving stolen property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. She also referenced 2024 matters involving unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property and possession of criminal tools.
The new indictment more specifically identifies Henry’s 2023 Franklin County juvenile robbery adjudication as the basis for the weapons-under-disability count.
During Dawson’s hearing, Stanley said records appeared to show prior cases involving strangulation, domestic violence and assault. Dawson said the matters had been dismissed.
Stanley acknowledged that prosecutors were still attempting to determine the status of those cases and did not give the court a definitive disposition.
Court Set Bonds at $100,000
The court declined the state’s requests for $500,000 cash bonds and initially set bond at $100,000 for each defendant.
The bonds could be posted through a surety bond, cash or real estate, but no 10% option was granted.
If released under the original bond orders, Dawson and Henry were required to:
Remain in Ohio.
Submit to GPS monitoring.
Observe a curfew from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m.
Enroll in the court’s drug and alcohol testing program.
Refrain from possessing firearms.
Refrain from operating a motor vehicle.
Stay off the Fin Feather Fur property and remain at least 500 feet away.
Have no contact with the owners of the allegedly stolen vehicles.
Have no contact with one another.
The newly provided indictment filings do not include an updated bond order.
Attorney John Pile was appointed to represent Dawson during the initial proceedings. Attorney Donald Wick was appointed to represent Henry.
The cases will now proceed in Ashland County Common Pleas Court following the grand jury indictments. No trial date or final disposition was included in the filings.
All charges are allegations. Dawson and Henry are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
