On Friday June 27, Judge Otho Eyster in the Knox County Court of Common Pleas sentenced five men for various felony crimes and violations of community control supervision, according to Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher.

Melvin Ray Fiske, 21, Fredericktown, was convicted of possessing an opal ring and five silver certificates stolen from a Fredericktown residence, in early April 2007. Fiske was sentenced to 11 months in prison. Lieutenant Jay Sheffer, Fredericktown Police Department, investigated the case.

Kenneth Kelton Smaltz, 23, Walhonding, was convicted of theft, misuse of a credit card and receiving stolen property. Smaltz was sentenced to 11 months in prison. According to Thatcher an investigation conducted by Detective Roger Brown, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, revealed that Smaltz used a stolen Visa card to purchase pre-paid minutes on his cellular telephone, on June 14, 2007. In a separate investigation on August 9, 2007, Patrolman David McElroy and Detective Craig Feeney, Mount Vernon Police Department, staged a buy-bust operation in which Smaltz sold four stolen wheels and tires for $500.00 to an undercover officer.

Mark A. Cline, 35, Mount Vernon, was convicted of aggravated trafficking in drugs for selling Methadone tablets to an undercover informant working for the MVPD, on May 25, 2007. Cline’s 17 month prison sentence will remain suspended provided he complies with all of the conditions of a three year term of community control supervision. Thatcher said the terms of Cline’s community control supervision include a 180 day jail sentence that will be served immediately, Cline must submit to a drug and alcohol assessment and treatment program when he is released from jail and his driver’s license will be suspended for six months. Detective Sergeant Jeff Jacobs and Detective Feeney, MVPD, investigated the case.

Jack E. Bell, 46, Mount Vernon, was convicted of importuning, a felony of the third degree, for soliciting a child under the age of thirteen to engage in sexual activity with him, on July 22, 2007. Bell’s three year prison sentence will remain suspended provided he complies with all of the conditions of a three year term of community control supervision. Thatcher said the terms of Bell’s community control supervision include a 90 day jail sentence that will be served immediately, and Bell must submit to a drug and alcohol assessment and treatment program when he is released from jail. Classified as a Tier I sex offender, Bell must register his address with authorities for the next 15 years. The case was investigated by Patrolman Brian Weiser and Detective Sergeant Jacobs, MVPD, and Investigator Tiffany Shortridge, Knox County Children’s Services.

On March 2, 2007, Justin R. Etler, 23, Utica, was given a 90 day jail sentence for a conviction on two counts of vehicular manslaughter, misdemeanors of the second degree. Thatcher said Etler served 30 days immediately, but the remaining 60 days were suspended on the condition that Etler committed no jailable offenses for two years. Judge Eyster imposed the remaining 60 days when Etler admitted that he was convicted of disorderly conduct persisting in the Mount Vernon Municipal Court, on May 12, 2008.