Record
number of City police ordered to attend courtroom to witness Matt
Powell, a
Top Rated Narcotics Investigator, be Sentenced In
Common Pleas Court to 90 days in jail and placed on three years
probation.
Written by Austin Leedom at 11:50 p.m.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
The sentence was pronounced
by Visiting Judge Richard M. Markus of Cleveland, Ohio against New
Boston Police Sgt. Matt Powell after Powell was convicted of a
charge of tampering with evidence by a trial jury in Common Pleas
Court on July 20, 2005. It appears to many persons that the
conviction was obtained with false documents and perjured testimony.
An appeal in this case is expected.
Today, Wednesday,
August 24, 2005, Sheriff Marty Donini, top deputies, Police Chief
Charles Horner, Police Captains Dave Thoroughman, Robert Ware,
Lieutenant Lynn Brewer, Sergeant Jim Charles, Detective Norbert
Cassidy and others were seen at the Courthouse. During the
sentencing the cops occupied a complete row of seats. The attendance
at the sentencing hearing by Police Chief Horner, and County Sheriff
Donini indicates the deep concern, anxiety and apprehension that has
apparently distressed them since early 2003 when Sgt. Powell began
asking about the missing drug money. Sheriff Donini and Chief
Horner have never given a proper accounting of the money and
property seized in their numerous drug raids.
The
indictments were obtained against Sgt. Powell in October 2004
following a seventeen-month investigation into the outstanding law
enforcement work of the New Boston officer. Portsmouth Police
Chief Charles Horner, Sheriff Marty Donini. New Boston Captain Steve
Goins, and many of their subordinates, did an exhaustive examination
of Powell’s investigations into drug trafficking and finally found
an error in Sgt. Powell’s reports. Hundreds of hours of police
work were expended by Portsmouth Police Department and the County
Sheriff’s Office in their efforts to discredit Powell.
Powell was creating waves of nervousness and anxiety
among many other law officers for his fervent efforts in
apprehending and successfully prosecuting drug criminals. Powell’s
accomplishments caused many other officers to appear to be
incompetent and indolent.
One of the Portsmouth
officers had reason to believe that Powell's eager, effective
activity would cause the arrest of the Portsmouth Police officer’s
son who had been previously convicted of a drug
offense.
In addition to this dread Sgt. Powell caused
further distress, worry, and apprehension among Drug Task Officers,
especially Chief Charles Horner and Sheriff Marty Donini when Powell
kept asking for an accounting of seized drug task money. Items
such as autos, weapons, drugs, jewelry and other valuables seized in
drug task force raids are unaccounted for. Sgt. Matt Powell
kept asking questions about the missing money and in early 2003
Chief Horner and Sheriff Donini were often together actively seeking
a way to quiet Matt Powell. They were often seen together in New
Boston; they attended New Boston Village Council meetings
together.
Today, Wednesday, August 24, 2005, Sheriff Marty
Donini, top deputies, Police Chief Charles Horner, Police Captains
Dave Thoroughman, Robert Ware, Lieutenant Lynn Brewer, Sergeant Jim
Charles, Detective Norbert Cassidy and others were seen at the
Courthouse. During the sentencing the cops occupied a complete
row of seats. The attendance at the sentencing hearing by Chief
Horner, and Sheriff Donini indicates the deep concern, anxiety and
apprehension that has distressed them since early 2003 when Sgt.
Powell began asking about the missing money. Sheriff Donini
and Chief Horner have never given a proper accounting of the money
and property seized in their numerous drug raids.
Written by
Austin Leedom at 11:50 p.m. Wednesday, August 24, 2005
DOUG
DEEPE IS INVESTIGATING –
SGT. POWELL CASE IS
ALIVE
Friday, July 22, 2005 - An Editorial in the
Portsmouth Daily Times (PDT)
concerning the trial and conviction
of New Boston Police Sergeant Matt Powell
reads in part, "Powell
needed to be held accountable, as all police officers and government
officials should be held accountable."
On Tuesday, July
26, 2005 the Portsmouth Daily Times (PDT)
printed a Letter to
the Editor from Christopher Goins of New
Boston. The
Letter published by Editor Rick Greene was
titled:
“Village resident cites ‘disgrace’ and ‘abuse,’
calls for Warren’s resignation
Christopher Goins, New
Boston”
This article below was prepared by Austin
Leedom, a
reporter that was present in the Scioto County Common
Pleas Courtroom during the entire jury trial of Matt Powell
on the 18th, 19th, and 20th days of July 2005.
In
his letter to the Editor, Mr. Goins claims New Boston Mayor Jim
Warren abused his power as Mayor in dismissing charges against
Police Sergeant Matt Powell in June 2004. Mr. Goins,
in
closing, again wrote “Mayor Warren “abused his powers”
and
disgraced the village. Therefore he should step down
from
his office.”
In his Letter to the Editor, Mr. Goins
says that the charge
that was dismissed in New Boston was the
same charge that Sergeant Powell was found guilty of in a Common
Pleas
Court trial earlier this month.
Mr. Goins has
those facts correct.
Mayor Warren, who is
advised by Solicitor Walter Lytten,
former long-time Scioto
Common Pleas Court Judge,
made the proper decision based on the
evidence presented
at the Mayor’s hearing in June
2004.
In the trial of Matt Powell in the Scioto Common
Pleas
Court, the jury made a proper decision based on the
evidence presented.
The difference is that the evidence
that was presented to the Common Pleas Court jury was contradictory
to the evidence presented to the Mayor’s hearing.
Sworn testimony presented at the New Boston hearing
was substantially altered when the same witnesses testified during
the Common Pleas Court trial.
Testimony was
recorded at both the Mayor’s hearing and at
the trial
court. If New Boston Mayor Jim Warren doesn’t
take his
taped evidence to appeal to the Scioto County Prosecuting Attorney’s
Office for a full Grand Jury
investigation, we, too, will be
disappointed.
I will be in conference with
Investigative Reporter John Welton
(Doug Deepe) very soon.
He has some hard evidence and tapes to
share with me.
I plan to be writing more detailed reports on this matter
soon.
As Editor Rick Greene has written, “ all
police officers and government officials should be held
accountable."
Doug Deepe has plans and evidence
to hold them all accountable.
There were greater
crimes committed against Matt Powell during his jury trial than any
Sgt. Powell may have committed by clerical errors or mis-statements
in his reports to the Grand Jury.
Written and
posted at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 by Austin
Leedom.
Powell was framed by corrupt cops. Sgt.
Powell trial set for Monday July 18, 2005 in Common
Pleas
Court. Don't miss this show, come early and get a
seat.
MATT
POWELL
State of Ohio v New Boston Police Sgt. Matt
Powell.
Wednesday 20 July 2005. Jury
finds Powell Not Guilty on one count, Guilty on Second
Count.
Serious proper procedure violations may
endanger other honest officers.
Visiting Judge Richard M. Markus, of Cleveland, Ohio
is very impressive. Now a Retired Judge, he started
practicing law 62 years ago. The consideration that the Judge shows
for others adds to his stature and to the respect and dignity of the
court. Judge Markus estimates the Powell trial will take three or
four days.
BIG TRIAL - Evidence is appearing that
Portsmouth Police Chief Horner and New Boston Captain Steve Goins
have good reasons to fear the honest officer and are trying to
falsely imprison New Boston Police Sgt. Matt Powell for ten
years.
Day
One: Monday, July 18..Jury chosen. Portsmouth Ptl. Tom
Lancaster's testimony is
suspect. Lancaster, now a Portsmouth Officer, gave possible
perjurious testimony about his association with Chief
Horner while employed with New Boston as a rookie policeman.
Lancaster perspired profusely and had difficult breathing during his
testimony.
First witness in the trial was Tom Lancaster who
worked for New Boston Police, then went to the Portsmouth Police in
early 2003. Officer Lancaster admitted to long-time friendship
with Portsmouth Police Chief Horner's son during his testimony today
in Common Pleas Court.
At the close of the court day
Lancaster was still in the witness box. His testimony will
continue at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow.
Special Prosecuting
Attorney Rocky Coss's presentation of the boring evidence, with Tom
Lancaster, apparently induced sleep in several members of the
audience, including a newsman, an attorney and one bail
bondsman. Many of the jurors were fighting
drowsiness. (One
person remarked that Prosecutor Coss was more soothing than
Nyquil.)
However, the people
awakened when Defense Attorney Jim Banks began
cross-examination of Patrolman Lancaster whose main testimony
was , "I don't remember," and "I can't
recall."
EDITORS NOTE: Inside information from the
Courthouse indicates that Chief Horner made repeated attempts for a
period of 17 MONTHS to charge Matt Powell with an alleged violation
of the law. Finally
after many tries to have Powell indicted for something, anything,
Chief Horner succeeded in getting a visiting Prosecuting Attorney to
bring an indictment against Matt Powell. Information received by the
Shawnee Sentinel
indicates that the charges are frivolous, with little substance, and
any conviction
of Matt Powell is very
doubtful. The trial has
repeatedly been delayed for reasons unknown to us; the trial was
recently deferred from a May hearing until the 18th of July,
2005. Note by Austin Leedom, 10 April 2005) (Updated and edited at 1:00
a.m. 15 July 2005)
SERGEANT POWELL
ASKED,
“WHERE’S THE
MONEY?”
Written at 4:00 a.m. Thursday, July 14, 2005
by Austin Leedom
Police Officer
Matthew Powell was the answer to the New Boston Mayor’s biggest
crime problem, Drug Abuse and Drug
Trafficking.
Soon after joining the New
Boston Police Department, the Mayor asked Patrolman Powell to
concentrate on drug law enforcement in the Village of New
Boston. Mayor Jim
Warren was delighted with the outstanding performance of Matt
Powell. In less than
two years Police Officer Powell and other Village Police Officers
virtually eliminated drug law violations in New Boston. Powell’s leadership and
courageous dedication to duty earned him a promotion to
Sergeant. During
several months, Powell, assisted by other New Boston officers, made
more drug arrests than both the Portsmouth Police and the County
Sheriff’s Office put together.
Money confiscated in Drug
cases is, by law, to be allotted to the police agency making the
arrest and confiscation.
This is to be ordered by the court on a motion from the
Prosecuting Attorney’s Office after the final closing of the
case. In this instance
Rick Brown, who served as New Boston Village Solicitor, and also
served as the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for the Drug Task
Force, was to file the motions with the court for the return of the
money to New Boston.
(Note:
Attorney Rick Brown has since given up his law practice here
and moved to North Carolina.)
Early in 2003
Sgt. Powell learned that money from drug arrests that was to come to
the Village of New Boston from money seized in New Boston wasn’t
being received in New
Boston.
Sgt. Powell then
created great excitement for several lawmen by repeatedly asking,
“Where’s the money.”
(Note:
“Where’s the money,” is a question the Shawnee
Sentinel has been asking for years about funds seized in drug
raids.)
Also, a
high-ranking police officer from the Portsmouth Police Department
had a son who had been convicted of drug violations, and it was
feared that Sgt. Powell would arrest the young man for drug
trafficking in New Boston.
The drug case against the young offender has been expunged
from court records at great cost, but Shawnee Sentinel
reporters were able to locate and publish the jail and court records
of the drug
offender.
Powell kept
asking, “Where’s the money; and many “big” men in law enforcement
became deeply concerned.
Apparently these “big” law officers decided that Sgt. Powell
had to be stopped from asking about the money, and of course, there
was the fear that the high ranking Portsmouth Police official’s son
might be arrested for drug trafficking in New Boston by Sgt.
Powell.
Top law
enforcement leaders in the City and County launched a vendetta
against Sergeant Powell.
He had to be
stopped.
A dangerous
question to some, “Where’s the money.” Also, the danger of the
possible arrest of a Portsmouth police official’s son for drug
trafficking by Sgt. Powell was a very real worry. Basically, this is the heart
of the matter of Sgt. Powell being charged, on extremely flimsy
evidence, with a crime of tampering with evidence.
The case created
against Sgt. Matt Powell does not have the necessary elements
of a crime. However, it
does have all the elements of a frame-up.
As in the case of
French Captain Alfred Dreyfuss, you will see false documents and
false testimony make up the body and substance of this
indictment.
I plan to write
more on this tomorrow; there are many more interesting facts that
shall be revealed here.
(Written
at 4:00 a.m. July 14, 2005 by Austin Leedom.)
(Independence Day
in France) click
on:
http://www.hightowertrail.com/Bastil.htm
88888888
WILL
SGT. POWELL TRIAL BE ANOTHER DREYFUSS
CASE?
Written and posted by Austin
Leedom on Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Trial of
former New Boston Police Sergeant Matthew Powell begins 9:00 a.m.
Monday, July 18, 2005 in Scioto County Common
Pleas Court with visiting Judge
Richard Mondell Markus of Cuyahoga County,
Ohio, presiding. Rocky Coss,
Special Prosecuting Attorney from
Highland County, Ohio will represent the
State.
Attorney James H. Banks of
Dublin, Ohio will represent Sergeant
Powell.
Winesses subpoenaed by the
State number 15; the Defense has listed 18
witnesses.
Included in
the list of witnesses are: One Judge, Two Mayors, Two
Chiefs of Police, one Sheriff, a former
Prosecuting Attorney, and numerous other
lawyers.
French Army Captain Alfred Dreyfuss, wrongfully convicted
of treason in 1894-by false Documents and false
Testimony.
Conviction was overturned in 1898. Dreyfuss was returned to
duty and awarded Knighthood in the Legion of
Honor.
The Sgt.
Matt Powell case appears to be a reproduction of the
Dreyfuss travesty of Justice
committed against a brave, innocent soldier
over a century ago.
Sheriff Marty Donini, and Police Chief Horner
INTIMIDATED the good MAYOR
Written by
Doug Deepe Wednesday, October 1, 2003 – Edited by Austin Leedom
Friday, July 15, 2005
SHERIFF DONINI AND CHIEF HORNER HARASSED NEW
BOSTON POLICE SGT. POWELL, AND TRIED TO BRIBE AND/OR THREATEN OTHERS
TO FALSELY TESTIFY AGAINST POWELL. NEW BOSTON MAYOR DID NOT
HELP HIS OFFICER; EVEN AFTER PROMISING EARLY IN MAY TO CALL THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE THE ILLEGAL ACTIONS AGAINST HIS
POLICE SERGEANT.
Mayor Warren could not fight back for fear that Sheriff Marty
Donini would fire the Mayor's son, Scott Warren, from his job as a
deputy in the Sheriff's
Office.
The Sentinel was telephoned on
September 29, 2003 by an angry New Boston Mayor Jim Warren
concerning the Sentinel
article posted about the Mayor’s son, Deputy Sheriff Scott Warren
that indicated Sheriff Marty Donini might fire the young
deputy. Although
Mayor Warren called Doug Deepe's writing vindictive, the article was
only a report of another public officer caught in a
violation.
Mayor Jim Warren's name was not mentioned in the
article. No kinship to
any other public officer was mentioned. Scott Warren is an officer
of the law, a public figure by himself, and subject to public
scrutiny.
When Mayor Warren first sought Sentinel assistance in
investigating Chief Horner's vendetta against his Narcotics Police
Sergeant Matt Powell in May 2003 he told us that he had to be
cautious because his son was employed by Sheriff Marty Donini. The Mayor did not tell us
that his son had been having difficulty with Sheriff Donini but he
did say that if he, the Mayor, got too much involved in defending
Matt Powell, it might cause his son to lose his
job.
MAYOR JIM WARREN FEARED FOR SGT. MATT POWELL’S
LIFE.
MAYOR PRAISED POWELL’S WORK IN CLEANING UP DRUGS IN
NEW BOSTON.
The good mayor did say he welcomed help because he
feared for Matt Powell's life but did not want to appear
connected. Mayor Warren
said that two years before, he had given Officer Powell an order to
clean up the drug trafficking in New Boston and he was so well
pleased with the outstanding work that Officer Powell had performed
that he had promoted Matt Powell to the rank of Sergeant in December
2002.
However, despite what Mayor Warren had told us in May,
it wasn’t until the telephone call from Mayor Warren yesterday
(September 29, 2003) that the staff of the Sentinel fully understood
why the Mayor was so fearful of openly standing up against the
Sheriff’s unethical actions in New
Boston.
Mayor Warren allowed New Boston Police Sergeant Matt
Powell to be persecuted by Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner
and Scioto County Sheriff Marty
Donini.
Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner accused Sgt.
Matt Powell of being an over-zealous officer who exceeded his
jurisdiction.
Chief Horner has attempted to bribe witnesses to
testify falsely about Sgt. Powell’s conduct as a New Boston
Undercover Narcotics Officer.
An interview with one such witness to attempted
bribery by Chief Horner was video taped in early June 2003 at the
New Boston Village Hall.
The witness was promised that the information she was giving
to the New Boston Police would be confidential. Mayor James Warren was party
to this agreement of
confidentiality.
Portsmouth Chief Charles Horner learned of the tape,
and demanded this confidential video recording be given to him
(Horner) by the New Boston Police. The New Boston Police
demurred, but gave Chief Charles Horner a copy of the confidential
tape after being ordered to do so by the Mayor, who did so upon the
advice of New Boston Village Solicitor Rick Brown.
(This advice of Attorney Rick Brown is another example
of Brown's unethical conflict of interest as Rick Brown and Chief
Horner have been partners for many years in the now defunct Drug
Task Force. The Task
Force collapsed after Sheriff Donini, Chief Horner and Rick Brown
were asked about the missing drug task force funds. Rick Brown was working
against the Village of New Boston, but was accepting generous
payment from New Boston as their appointed
Solicitor.)
How were Chief Horner and Sheriff Marty Donini able to
keep New Boston Mayor Jim Warren quiet? It was the power that
Sheriff Donini held to fire the son from his deputy sheriff position
that effectively muzzled Mayor
Warren.
This newly revealed fact is the missing piece as to
why this conspiracy by Sheriff Marty Donini, Portsmouth Police Chief
Charles Horner, and Assistant County Prosecutor Rick Brown almost
worked.
If anyone doesn’t believe that Sgt. Matt Powell’s
attorney, James Banks, can prove a conspiracy, just look at the
chronological time line we have been able to assemble. Here’s how this whole matter
plays out.
December 2002: New Boston Police Under Cover Officer
Matt Powell is asking questions to New Boston Officials about where
New Boston drug seized money is being sent by Scioto County Common
Pleas Court. This
inquiry about drug money was troubling to Drug Task Force Chief
Charles Horner, Assistant Prosecutor Rick Brown, and Sheriff Marty
Donini.
December 2002:
Chief Charles Horner pays to have his son’s (David Horner)
criminal drug record expunged from the files of the Portsmouth
Municipal Court.
January 2003: David Horner is under surveillance by
Sgt. Matt Powell for possible criminal activity in the Village of
New Boston. Drug
dealers claim that they (the drug dealers) tipped off Chief Horner
that Sgt. Matt Powell was investigating his
son.
February 2003:
Deputy Scott Warren, (New Boston Mayor Jim Warren’s son)
charged with a serious traffic violation by the Ohio Highway
Patrol.
March 2003:
At the beginning of March 2003, Sgt. Powell contacted
Portsmouth Police Dispatcher and informed the dispatcher that a
shipment of drugs was coming through Portsmouth and that if the
Portsmouth P.D. wanted to come to his home in Portsmouth and listen
to the phone call they could get evidence to stop the car and drugs
as it flowed through
Portsmouth.
March 2003:
Portsmouth Police Captain David Thoroughman notified Police
Chief Charles Horner that Sgt. Powell is attempting to make drug
buys in the City of Portsmouth, outside of Sgt. Powell's ordinary
jurisdiction. (This was
a false claim by Captain Thoroughman, inspired by jealousy of Sgt.
Powell. Powell was
becoming too friendly with a former girlfriend of Captain
Thoroughman's.)
Police Chief Charles Horner, who was also Chief of the
Drug Task Force for eleven years, and Sheriff Marty Donini both are
concerned that Sgt. Powell will continue to inquire about the
missing drug force money.
Also, Horner is concerned that his son will be arrested
again. Does Captain
David Thoroughman want Powell out of the way and away from
Thoroughman’s former girl
friend?
Chief Horner, Sheriff Donini and Captain Thoroughman
all had personal motives to act against Sgt. Powell. And professionally,
the zealous, hardworking Sgt. Powell was making the others look
bad. Alone, Sgt. Powell
had made more drug busts than the entire Drug Task Force had made in
the past year.
Sgt. Powell had to
go.
PORTSMOUTH POLICE CHIEF HORNER ORDERS
HIS POLICE TO SPY ON NEW
BOSTON POLICE SGT. MATT POWELL
March 2003:
Chief Charles Horner issued a secret directive for all
Portsmouth Police Officers to report any contact with Sgt. Matt
Powell regardless if the contact was off duty or on duty. This was a verbal
directive.
March 2003:
Two reports were filed by Portsmouth Police Officers
concerning contact with Sgt. Powell. Some of the Portsmouth
Police Officers objected to the idea of spying on a fellow
officer.
March 26, 2003:
Chief Charles Horner then issued a written directive/policy
that ordered all Portsmouth Police Officers to file written reports
to him (Chief Horner) if the officer had any contact with Sgt. Matt
Powell, Powell's attorney Eric Wrage, and/or Powell's girlfriend
Teresa Blankenship.
CHIEF HORNER REFUSED TO ALLOW PORTSMOUTH OFFICERS TO
ASSIST TO SGT. POWELL IN APPREHENDING A
FUGITIVE
March 31, 2003:
Sgt. Matt Powell sought backup from Portsmouth Police
Officers in the apprehension of Timothy J. Howell, a dangerous
wanted felon, at a house located in Portsmouth. Chief Charles Horner ordered
Portsmouth Police Officers NOT to assist Sgt. Powell in the arrest
of Howell, although the Portsmouth Police also had a warrant for the
arrest of Timothy Howell.
PORTSMOUTH POLICE THEN ASK FOR HELP, SGT. POWELL DOES
NOT REFUSE - HE ANSWERED THEIR
CALL
April 6, 2003:
Sgt. Matt Powell responded to a call for assistance by
Portsmouth Police Officers concerning a hostage situation on
Harrisonville Avenue, in Portsmouth, Ohio. When he arrived on the scene
Sgt. Powell was sent around behind the house, alone. Later, Portsmouth Officers
refuse to go around back when Sgt. Powell radioed repeatedly for
assistance when the kidnapper brought his hostage onto the back
porch with a gun to the hostage’s head. The two men returned back
into the house where the hostage was killed and the gunman committed
suicide.
April 6, 2003: Sgt. Powell was heartsick that no one
had come to help him at the rear of the house. Powell believes that he may
have been able to disarm the gunman if an officer had come to the
rear of the house to distract the gunman. Powell believes that one or
more lives could possibly have been spared if had had
assistance.
That night, after the shootings and the deaths, an honest
Portsmouth Police Officer takes Sgt. Powell aside and informed Sgt.
Powell about the order by Chief Horner to write a report any time
they have any view or contact concerning Sgt.
Powell.
April 7, 2003: At the Portsmouth Police station, Sgt.
Powell and Teresa Blankenship confront Portsmouth Police Captain
David Thoroughman about the secret memo/directive concerning them
that had been written by Chief Horner. Captain Thoroughman lies to
Sgt. Powell and Ms. Blankenship. He says that the memo
doesn’t exist and then admits the memo is in the possession of Chief
Horner. Captain
Thoroughman's lies were tape
recorded.
April 2003: Assistant Scioto County Prosecutor Rick
Brown, who also served as the New Boston Village Solicitor,
announced that missing New Boston drug money was a simple mistake
that would be corrected.
(New Boston has not received the drug money as of September
29, 2003.)
(Note:
Rick Brown has since given up his law practice here and moved to
North Carolina.)
April 2003: New Boston Police Officer Tommy Lancaster
was hired by Portsmouth Police Chief Horner after Horner asked
Officer Lancaster if he would be willing to write reports against
Sgt. Matt Powell.
DRUG TASK SUDDENLY ABANDONED BY HORNER AND
DONINI
May 12, 2003:
Chief Horner and Sheriff Marty Donini disbanded the Drug Task
Force and go their separate ways, after the Sentinel persists in
inquiries about the missing drug task force money. Portsmouth Mayor Greg Bauer
agreed to the break-up of the Drug Task Force, and informed Sentinel reporters during an
interview at his office that he and Chief Horner had decided to quit
the Drug Task Force. Sheriff Marty
Donini was furiously angry that Mayor Bauer had revealed the
break-up of the Drug Task Force. Donini said, “I wanted
to keep it secret”….,”for thirty days.” He said he did not want the
public to know.
CHIEF HORNER ON TV CHANNEL 3
NEWS
May 2003: WSAZ
News Channel 3 Reporter Randy Yohe confronted Chief Charles
Horner with the 911 tape where Chief Horner told his officers to not
assist in the arrest of the wanted felon, Timothy Howell. Chief Horner lied (on TV
videotape) to Reporter Randy Yohe by claiming that he (Horner) never
denied backup to Sgt. Powell.
Randy Yohe played the 911 tape on Channel 3 News at 6:00
p.m.
SGT. POWELL FILED CIVIL ACTION AGAINST DONINI, AND
HORNER
June 2003: Sgt. Powell sued Chief Horner, Sheriff
Donini and their respective
departments.
SHERIFF DONINI AND POLICE CHIEF HORNER TOGETHER
AT
NEW BOSTON VILLAGE
COUNCIL MEETING
June 4,
2003: Sheriff Donini and Chief Charles Horner attended the New
Boston Village Council Meeting sitting side by side in an obvious
attempt to intimidate New Boston Mayor Jim
Warren.
SHERIFF REFUSED TO DEFEND HIMSELF AGAINST CHARGE OF
LYING
At this meeting Sheriff Donini was accused of lying to
the press; an accuser held official state documents in his hand that
proved that the Sheriff had lied. Sheriff Donini said he would
not comment because of pending
litigation.
HORNER AND DONINI MEET WITH FORMER NEW BOSTON
OFFICER
Following the council meeting, Sheriff Donini and Police
Chief Horner met outside of the New Boston Village Hall where they
were seen talking with former New Boston Police Officer Robert
Deerfield.
Mr. Deerfield, soon after talking with Horner and
Donini, related to his friends, in the presence of Shawnee Sentinel Reporters, that
Sheriff Marty Donini had offered him a road job as a deputy sheriff
if he would testify to wrong-doing by Sgt. Matt Powell. Mr. Deerfield said that he
had told Sheriff Donini that he had worked with Sgt. Powell for two
years as an undercover drug officer and had never seen Sgt. Powell
do anything wrong.
SPEEDING PORTSMOUTH POLICE CRUISER NARROWLY MISSED
HITTING SGT. POWELL WHILE POWELL WAS WRITING TRAFFIC
TICKET
June 6, 2003:
1:00 a.m. Sgt.
Matt Powell had stopped an eastbound traffic violator near the New
Boston Coke plant.
While talking with the traffic violator Sgt. Powell was
nearly struck by a Portsmouth Police cruiser that was traveling east
at an extremely high rate of speed. Four witnesses have related
that Sgt. Powell's cruiser had all flashing lights in operation, was
near the edge of the highway and the Portsmouth Police cruiser
appeared to deliberately crowd too close to the New Boston cruiser
and Sgt. Powell. Was
this act just careless driving or another act of intimidation, or
worse?
June 2003: A New Boston drug informant met with New
Boston Police Chief Darrold Clark and revealed that Chief Horner was
trying to get her to give false testimony against Sgt. Matt
Powell.
STATE ASSISTANCE REQUESTED BY NEW BOSTON CHIEF OF
POLICE
July 2003:
New Boston Police Chief Darrold Clark sought the assistance
of Ohio State Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation
(BCII) to investigate the Powell/Horner
matters.
July and August 2003:
Numerous drug abusers/dealers contacted the Sentinel claiming Chief
Charles Horner asked them (the dealers/abusers) to give false
testimony against Sgt. Matt Powell to BCII
investigator.
August 2003:
Sgt. Powell was placed on administrative leave pending
outcome of BCII investigation.
This timeline highlights five very important facts:
Scioto County Sheriff Marty V.
Donini:
Sgt. Powell was very disturbing to Sheriff Donini's
peace of mind.
Donini was worried that Sgt. Powell would keep on
asking for the missing drug task force money. Marty Donini cannot account
for the missing money.
Also, Powell was making the Sheriff look bad. Powell was making more drug
arrests than the entire large force of Sheriff's
deputies.
Sgt. Powell had to
go.
New Boston Mayor Jim
Warren.
New Boston Mayor Jim Warren had, in his mind, no
choice but to go along with the campaign by Sheriff Marty Donini and
Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner against New Boston Police
Sergeant Matt Powell.
Sheriff Marty Donini had reason to fire Mayor Jim
Warren’s son (Scott Warren) for his traffic charge on February 20,
2003, but had not done so,.... yet. Mayor Warren had to
play ball with Chief Horner and Sheriff Donini or the Mayor's son
would no longer be a deputy sheriff; he would be out of work,
unemployed.
Portsmouth Police Chief Charles
Horner
Chief Charles Horner’s son was being pursued by Sgt. Matt
Powell, and most likely would again be arrested. The Chief feared Sgt. Powell
would arrest Horner's errant son. Chief Horner also feared
Sgt. Powell because Powell persisted in asking about the misplaced
drug task force money.
Chief Horner has refused to account for missing drug
money.
Sgt. Powell had to
go.
Portsmouth Police Captain David
Thoroughman
Portsmouth Police Captain David Thoroughman was
displeased that Sgt. Powell was keeping company with Thoroughman's
former girl friend.
Sgt. Powell had to
go.
Drug Task Force Prosecuting Attorney Rick
Brown
Attorney Rick Brown could not account for the missing
drug task force money.
Rick Brown could not or would not answer for missing items
and money that had been seized in drug raids. Sgt. Matt Powell was making
an issue of the unaccounted for missing funds, motor vehicles and
other items that had been seized by the Drug Task Force. The Drug Task Force for
eleven years had been represented by Assistant County Prosecuting
Attorney Brown. Rick
Brown has plans to run for County Prosecutor in the next
election. Powell's
questions about missing drug money, and other missing items was
embarrassing to a man seeking election to a public
office.
Sgt. Powell had to go.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what was going
on when you look at this timeline. (There are many other
details not in this timeline that makes the conspiracy even more
apparent.)
MAYOR WARREN FEARED THAT SGT. POWELL MIGHT BE
KILLED
Mayor Warren met secretly with the Sentinel in April, May and
June 2003 and repeatedly asked us to keep his name out of our
stories. Now we know
why.
At no time in April, May, or June 2003 during our
meetings with Mayor Warren did the Mayor inform us that his son
might be fired by Sheriff Donini. Had we known that
information it would have saved us a lot of time and effort trying
to find out why Mayor Warren allowed Chief Charles Horner and
Sheriff Marty Donini to have the run of his Village for the last
five months!
Mayor Warren became upset with the Sentinel Monday (September
29, 2003) when we wrote of
his son’s
situation with Sheriff Marty Donini.
In reality, Mayor, your complaint about the news story
involving your son uncovered why you were reluctant to expose the
campaign by Chief Charles Horner, Attorney Rick Brown, and Sheriff
Marty Donini to persecute and destroy an honest, innocent
officer. We never
completely put the puzzle together until you called. We can understand your
consideration for your son.
Sgt. Powell’s lawyer, James Banks, will
love this new piece of the puzzle. It all fits.
Now, readers may know how young Sgt.
Powell's parents may feel about what has happened to their son, and how they must
feel about all the publicity, anxiety, suffering and notoriety they
have undeservedly
endured.
Written by Doug Deepe, October 1, 2003 – Edited
by Austin Leedom, July 15, 2005.
Chief Horner and Sheriff
Donini began investigation of New Boston Sgt. Matt Powell in early
2003 when the hard-working Police Sergeant asked, "Where's the
missing drug
money?"
Since Powell began asking about
the money the Drug Task Force was quickly disbanded, no proper
accounting of the money has been made, Rick Brown, the Attorney for
the Drug Task Force left the state,....and a frivolous charge has
been placed against Powell.....Hmmm,... Sort of makes you wonder,
doesn't it?
WHO IS THE CRIMINAL? THE
ACCUSED OR THE ACCUSER?
Arrive 8:30 a.m. at the Common
Pleas Court to get a seat for a most unusual trial.
Former New
Boston Police Sergeant Matthew Powell is to face trial in Scioto County Common Pleas Court Monday, July
18, 2005 at 9:00 a.m.
Is
Sgt. Powell guilty of the charge or is Portsmouth Police Chief
Charles Horner attempting to frame an innocent man? Read
the three revealing articles below.
For
a view of the docket sheets in this case click on http://www.sciotocountycpcourt.org/
Portsmouth Police Chief Charles Horner
Labored for Seventeen Months to Obtain Two Allegations Against New
Boston Police Sergeant Matt Powell
Former New Boston Police Sergeant
Matt Powell was finally indicted on October 29, 2004 by the Grand
Jury on two alleged charges of tampering with evidence. The indictment came after
persistent attempts over a period of 17 months by Portsmouth Police
Chief Charles Horner to charge Powell with a violation of the
law. Sheriff Marty Donini
also involved. Trial set for May, 2005 was postponed by
the State, trial re-set for July 18,
2005.
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