Garfield Heights Woman Indicted on Multiple Felony Counts in Ashland County Fraud Case
ASHLAND, OHIO — March 20, 2025 — A Garfield Heights woman is facing a series of felony and misdemeanor charges after allegedly executing a multi-location bank fraud scheme that targeted multiple Park National Bank branches across north-central Ohio.
Daion Owens, 29, appeared before Magistrate Emily M. Bates of the Ashland County Common Pleas Court today via video conference following her arrest on a sealed indictment (sub rosa) issued by a Ashland grand jury.
Owens, who was not represented by legal counsel during the hearing, was informed of her rights and the eight-count indictment against her. Attorney Kimberly Stout-Sherrer was subsequently appointed as her legal representative after Owens was found to be indigent.
The indictment, presented by Assistant Prosecutor James Reese, outlines a complex scheme in which Owens allegedly forged and attempted to cash fraudulent checks across multiple counties on August 2, 2023. The charges include:
Two counts of Theft (Fifth-degree felonies), for allegedly stealing a total of over $3,500 from two Park National Bank branches — one in Ashland and another in Ontario.
Two counts of Attempted Theft (First-degree misdemeanors), stemming from unsuccessful attempts to cash fraudulent checks in Mansfield.
Four counts of Forgery (Fifth-degree felonies), related to forged checks drawn on an account belonging to a Park National Bank customer, “The Veterans and First Responders.”
According to the indictment, Owens successfully cashed checks at the Ashland and Ontario locations, totaling $1700.00 and $1849.19 respectively. However, her attempts to cash similar fraudulent checks at Mansfield branches were denied.
Court records show that Owens is accused of using checks from a compromised account ending in 5965, belonging to The Veterans and First Responders, a nonprofit organization. Investigators allege she knowingly presented forged instruments with the intent to defraud the organization and the bank.
During the bond hearing, Prosecutor Reese referenced Owens’ extensive criminal history, including recent charges in multiple Ohio counties:
2023: Three counts of counterfeiting (F4) and one count of forgery (F5) in Summit County
2023: Seven counts of forgery (F5), receiving stolen property (F5), and grand theft (F4) in Lorain County
2023: Theft charge (M1) in Mayfield Heights
2017: Falsification charge (M1) in North Olmsted
The magistrate set bond at $25,000, allowing for either a 10% cash deposit or full bond via surety or collateral. As part of her bond conditions, Owens must not leave the state without permission, abstain from drugs and alcohol, submit to random testing, and have no contact with Park National Bank locations.
She is scheduled for arraignment on Monday, March 24, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., which will also be held via video unless she posts bond prior to the hearing.
Owens is currently held on the charges of theft, attempted theft, and forgery, all carrying potential prison time if convicted. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional charges or co-conspirators in the fraud scheme.
Braving the Cold: ‘Freezin’ for a Reason’ Returns to Support Special Olympics
Ashland, OH – Get ready to take the plunge! The annual “Freezin’ for a Reason” event is set to take place on Saturday, March 22, 2025, in the back parking lot of Dale Roy School. This chilly tradition, benefiting Special Olympics Ohio, invites participants to embrace the cold while raising funds and awareness for a great cause.
Event Schedule & Details
Registration: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
A $5 donation grants participants a lunch ticket and a door prize ticket.
A $10 donation provides a lunch ticket and five door prize tickets.
Photo Frame Pics: Capture the “before” moments leading up to the big plunge!
Lunch (11:15 AM – 12:00 PM): Enjoy hot dogs, chips, dessert, and water.
Costume Contest: Participants are encouraged to dress up in creative outfits for a chance to win. Secret judges will determine the best-dressed plungers!
Opening Ceremonies (12:45 PM): A pre-plunge celebration featuring the announcement of costume contest winners and other awards.
Time to Take the Plunge!
At 1:00 PM, the moment of truth arrives as participants step under a fire water tank truck spray, testing their endurance against the icy water. The Dale Roy Cafeteria will be open for warming up afterward, offering food, fellowship, and a variety of door prizes.
This event is proudly sponsored by Ashland County and supported by law enforcement, local businesses, and volunteers. Proceeds benefit Special Olympics Ohio, helping athletes with disabilities compete, train, and thrive in sports.
Ohio Conducts Statewide Tornado Drill for Severe Weather Awareness Week
March 19, 2025 – Ohio residents heard tornado sirens blare this morning, but there was no cause for alarm—it was part of the state’s annual tornado drill.
As part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, observed from March 16-22, Ohio officials conducted the drill at 9:50 a.m. to test emergency preparedness systems and encourage public safety measures. The event, held every year during the third week of March, allows communities to practice their tornado response plans.
The statewide test uses the same siren tone as an actual tornado warning, ensuring that residents recognize the alert in the event of real danger. During the drill, local governments, schools, and businesses are encouraged to review their emergency sheltering procedures and test warning systems to ensure they are functional.
Understanding Tornado Alerts: Watch vs. Warning
The National Weather Service (NWS) issues two types of tornado alerts:
A Tornado Watch signals that conditions are favorable for tornado formation. Residents should remain alert and be prepared to take shelter if necessary.
A Tornado Warning means a tornado has been sighted or detected by radar and poses an immediate threat. When a warning is issued, residents should seek shelter immediately.
How to Stay Safe During a Tornado
Ohioans are reminded to follow safety measures in the event of a tornado. A common method taught in schools is the DUCK strategy:
D – Go down to the lowest level and stay away from windows.
U – Get under something sturdy, like a table or basement staircase.
C – Cover your head to protect from debris.
K – Keep sheltered until the storm has passed.
Preparing for Severe Weather
Governor Mike DeWine has proclaimed March 16-22, 2025, as Severe Weather Awareness Week, urging Ohioans to prepare for hazardous spring and summer weather, including tornadoes, thunderstorms, and floods.
Residents are encouraged to create an emergency plan, assemble emergency kits for their homes and vehicles, and familiarize themselves with local emergency shelters. The Ashland County Emergency Management Agency offers additional safety resources at www.ashlandcountyoh.us.
When is Tornado Season in Ohio?
According to the National Weather Service, Ohio’s peak tornado season runs from April through June, but tornadoes can occur at any time of the year.
Trio of Retired AU faculty Members Receive Emeritus Status
ASHLAND, Ohio – Three former Ashland University faculty members have received emeritus status, as announced by the Office of the President. Emeritus faculty status can be granted to faculty members who completed at least 15 years of full-time service at AU.
Receiving emeritus status recognizes the individual’s long-term contributions to AU in the areas of teaching, scholarship and service, and it takes effect immediately.
Those granted emeritus status are Duncan Jamieson, Ph.D., of the College of Arts and Sciences, Diane Moretz of the Dauch College of Business and Economics and Jackie Owens, Ph.D., of the Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
“Professors Jamieson, Moretz and Owens transformed the lives of generations of AU students, and we are ever grateful for their teaching and service to our university,” stated AU President Jon Parrish Peede.
Jamieson, a professor of history, retired after a remarkable 45-year career at AU (1978-2024). In addition to holding every rank of professor, he served as the Director of the Honors Program, Dean of the School of Sciences, Assistant to the President for Academic Affairs, Director of Institutional Research, Grants and Special Programs and Director of Continuing Education at different times during his tenure. In the classroom, he taught a wide variety of courses in American history, and he was the recipient of an AU Academic Mentor Award four times. Jamieson contributed to his field in national professional organizations, including serving as president of the Sport Literature Association and the Popular Culture Association in the South. He also is co-author of “The Eagles of Ashland,” a fascinating history of the eagle statues that make for unique decorations across the AU campus.
Moretz, an assistant professor of marketing, completed 36 years of full-time service to AU (1988-2024). She began her tenure teaching in the hospitality program on the main campus as well as at the Ohio State Reformatory, then moved her focus to marketing and eventually chaired the Department of Marketing, Fashion Merchandising and Sport Management. She was also active on numerous committees, including Faculty Senate, Academic Standards, Admissions and Marketing, Athletics and COBE Scholarship.
Owens began her service to AU as a professional instructor of nursing and she retired as a tenured professor of nursing after 21 years (2003-24). She served as program director of the RN to BSN program for more than a decade and was a two-time recipient of the AU Academic Mentor Award and a five-time finalist for the Taylor Excellence in Teaching Award. She was on several university committees, including Institutional Promotion and Tenure, Faculty Senate, Shared Governance Task Force and Graduate Council and Graduate Curriculum. Owens developed an extensive scholarly record with dozens of publications and presentations and was the editor-in-chief of The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, the scholarly journal of the American Nurses Association.
Mansfield Man Cited and Fined for Shooting Protected Trumpeter Swan
Ashland County, OH – A Mansfield man has been found guilty and fined after unlawfully killing a protected trumpeter swan during the early teal and goose hunting season last fall.
According to a March 4, 2025, field report from the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the case dates back to September 8, 2024, when State Wildlife Officer Evan Huegel received a Wildlife Turn-In-A-Poacher (TIP) call about a hunter shooting a trumpeter swan in Black Fork Bottoms hunting area. A witness reported seeing a group of trumpeter swans flying overhead, followed by multiple gunshots. One swan was observed falling into the water.
Upon arriving at the scene, Officer Huegel identified the only hunter in the area as Jeffrey E. Cline of Mansfield, Ohio. Surveillance showed Cline retrieving a dead goose while a dead swan lay approximately 10 yards away, which he did not attempt to recover.
When questioned, Cline admitted to shooting the swan, stating he had misidentified it as a goose. Though he possessed all required hunting permits and stamps, he was cited for unlawful take of a certain non-game bird, a first-degree misdemeanor under Ohio law.
Court Ruling and Fine
Cline appeared in Ashland Municipal Court on September 20, 2024, where Magistrate Fred Oxley accepted his no-contest plea and found him guilty. He was fined $350 plus court costs, bringing the total to $437.
Protected Status of Trumpeter Swans
The Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) is North America’s largest native waterfowl species and was recently removed from Ohio’s endangered species list. However, it remains a protected species, and hunting them is strictly prohibited.
Speaking on the case, Andy Chow, Chief of the Office of Communications for the Ohio Division of Wildlife, emphasized the importance of proper species identification to prevent unlawful killings of protected wildlife.
Legal and Conservation Efforts
Violating Ohio’s wildlife protection laws can result in fines, license suspensions, and even jail time. The Ohio Division of Wildlife continues to urge hunters to carefully identify their targets before shooting.
Report Wildlife Violations
Residents can report illegal hunting activities through Ohio’s Turn-In-A-Poacher (TIP) hotline at 1-800-POACHER.Photo credit: Matt Platz
Ashland Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with Parade, Music, and Tradition
Ashland, OH – Despite the cooler temperatures, Ashland’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration was anything but dull. A bright blue sky and lively Irish traditional chanteys set the perfect backdrop for the city’s annual Walking Parade, which drew hundreds of residents to the streets in a spirited display of Irish pride.
The parade, which began at Foundation Plaza around 5:15 p.m., was a spectacle of entertainment, featuring stilt walkers, a dazzling mirror-clad duo, and the unmistakable sound of bagpipes leading the way. Among the distinguished participants were Mayor Matt Miller and his wife, State Representative Melanie Miller, along with members of the Ashland City Council. Representing the Ashland Police Division, Lieutenant Aaron Kline stood out in a kilt paired with his police uniform, proudly carrying the city flag.
The parade procession made its way down Main Street to City Hall, where Mayor Miller and ten lucky children—winners of the city’s St. Patrick’s Day coloring contest—had the honor of dyeing the town creek green, continuing a cherished tradition. This year, 141 children between the ages of five and 18 submitted colorful illustrations of a leprechaun for the contest.
City officials, also sporting kilts, joined the festivities as the community came together for an evening of culture, camaraderie, and celebration. With music in the air and green dye in the water, Ashland once again proved that its St. Patrick’s Day spirit is as vibrant as ever.
Suspected Abduction in Butler County Sparks Multi-County Police Investigation, Turns Out to Be False Alarm
Lodi, Ohio – A suspected abduction that began in Butler County, Ohio, on Sunday set off a high-priority law enforcement response, spanning multiple counties and concluding in Medina County—only to be determined as a misunderstanding.
The situation unfolded when woman reported to Butler County Sheriff’s Office that she believed a woman had been abducted causing law enforcement agencies to launch an urgent search for a specific vehicle. The Ohio State Highway Patrol Ashland Post first reported spotting the suspect’s car on Interstate 71.
However, due to heavy traffic, the responding trooper lost sight of the vehicle before confirming whether it exited at U.S. Route 250. Another trooper positioned further down the highway radioed in, stating that the car had not passed his location, indicating that it had likely taken the exit.
Immediately, officers from the Ashland Police Division, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ohio Highway Patrol responded to the area. Using cellphone tracking technology, law enforcement pinpointed the alleged victim’s phone near the intersection of U.S. Route 42 and Middle Rowsburg Road. Officers rushed to the location but were unable to locate the vehicle.
Shortly afterward, a West Salem Police officer spotted the car entering their village on U.S. Route 42. The officer followed the vehicle while awaiting backup. Multiple law enforcement agencies converged, and a traffic stop was conducted at U.S. Route 42 and Vandemark Road in Medina County.
After speaking with the individuals inside the car, authorities determined that the woman had willingly accompanied the driver, and there was no abduction. Butler County Sheriff’s Office later commented that the situation was a “glorified welfare check,” and no abduction had been committed.
“This was one of those cases where things weren’t as they initially seemed,” a law enforcement official stated. “While we always take these reports seriously, this situation turned out to be a misunderstanding.”
Vermillion Township – On Friday March 14, 2025 at approximately 11:30 AM troopers from the Ashland Highway Patrol Post were dispatched to a two-vehicle serious injury crash on US 30 (Eastbound Lanes) at the intersection of State Route 511.
A 2014 Jeep Patriot was southbound on SR 511 approaching the intersection of US 30. The Jeep failed to stop at the stop sign at US 30 and entered the intersection directly into the path of a 2015 Ford F-150 that was traveling eastbound on US 30. After the collision both vehicles traveled off the right side of the roadway and came to a final rest.
The driver of the Jeep Patriot, a 17 year old male, was transported by Hayesville Fire & EMS to Ohio Health Mansfield Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A 17 year old female passenger was flown by Metro Life Flight to Akron City Hospital with serious injuries.
The driver of the Ford F-150, Stephen Darrell Manges, of Akron, Ohio was transported by Ashland Fire & EMS to Ohio Health Mansfield Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted on scene by the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Ashland Fire & EMS, and Hayesville Fire & EMS.
All three individuals involved in the crash were wearing their seat-belts.
Alcohol & Drugs are not considered to be factors in the crash.
The crash is still under investigation at this time.
Authorities Investigate Possible Domestic Violence Incident in Ashland County
ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO – Law enforcement and emergency responders were called to a “man down” situation on County Road 1302 just east of Township Road 753 around 9:20 a.m. this morning.
The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Ashland Fire Department & EMS arrived at the scene and located an unidentified male who was laying in the roadway. He was transported to Ohio-Health Mansfield Hospital with injuries of unknown severity.
Authorities have not released further details on the incident, but the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the case remains under investigation and is currently being reviewed by the Ashland County Prosecutor’s Office.
While no official cause has been confirmed, scanner traffic indicated the situation may have stemmed from a domestic violence incident.
More details will be provided as the investigation develops.
Joe Lyons •
March 20, 2025
