The daughter of Mason County’s emergency services director has not been indicted for her alleged role in a series of Bend-area arsons. However, two of her fellow volunteer firefighters and apparent co-conspirators have. On Wednesday, the Mason County grand jury returned indictments against 52 people. Among those indicted were Jamar Juel Cuthbertson, and Brent Donavan Kapp.
Both Cuthbertson, 19, of Mason, and Kapp, 20, of West Columbia, were arrested and charged on January 11 with one count, and two counts of first degree arson, respectively. According to court records, their arrests stemmed from the state Fire Marshal’s Office investigation into the men deliberately setting fires so as to later respond them as firefighters.
Prior to their arrests, Cuthbertson was a member of the New Haven Volunteer Fire Department, and Kapp was a member of Mason’s volunteer squad.
According to court records, Cuthbertson was involved in setting fire to an outbuilding at 16698 Ohio River Road near West Columbia on September 29. The Fire Marshal’s investigation also linked Kapp to this fire.
About two weeks later on October 15, Kapp was involved in another alleged arson. Only this time, at an abandoned trailer at 286 Front Street in Mason.
Also implicated in the Fire Marshal’s investigation was Kimberly Sue Blake, daughter of Mason County Office of Emergency Services/911 Director Chuck Blake. Like Kapp, Kim Blake, 24, was a member of the Mason volunteer firefighter.
Blake’s brother, Chuck II, is the department’s chief.
According to court records, Blake and Kapp were driving around Front Street and allegedly set fire to the trailer because they “were bored and wanted something to do.” About 10-15 minutes prior to the fire being reported, Kapp and Blake were seen by Sgt. Woolard of the Mason Police Department pulling into in the fire station in a green Pontiac Sunfire.
Though the cases against Cuthbertson and Kapp were bound over to the grand jury, the case against Blake was dismissed on March 3. According to court records, Mason County Prosecutor Damon Morgan made the motion following the failure of Jason Baltic, assistant state Fire Marshal to testify at Blake’s preliminary hearing.
A subpona was apparently issued for Baltic to testify, but never served on him.
Subsequent to her arrest, Blake, who worked in the county 911 center as a dispatcher, was placed on paid administrative leave. According to records provided by the commission, she earned a salary of $23,952 last year.
During a special meeting held March 10, the commission took up the issue of reinstating Blake. However, she surprised everyone by tendering her resignation.
Commission President Rick Handley was quoted in the Point Pleasant Register saying that the commission would be conducting "a search of its records to see if Blake is due any back pay." Handley is seeking the Democratic nomination for a third term as commissioner.
Following the dismissal of the charges against Blake, Morgan said a case could still be presented against her during a future meeting of the grand jury. It was not immediately clear if Morgan declined to present Blake to the grand jury during this term, or if they declined to return a true bill against her.
In any event, Cuthbertson and Kapp, like all those indicted, are scheduled to be back in circuit court Wednesday, May 14 beginning at 9 a.m. to answer to the charges against them. Both Cuthbertson and Kapp are free on $5,000 and $10,000 bond, respectively.
Below, is a complete list of all 52 people indicted by the Mason County grand jury during its May term:
Anthony Darrell Black, 20, Point Pleasant – 2 counts breaking and entering, fourth degree arson, conspiracy, 2 counts grand larceny. Black is also charged separately with grand larceny, conspiracy and destruction of property; Billy Joe Bowman, 31, Point Pleasant –breaking and entering, grand larceny and conspiracy; David Allan Bowman, 31, Point Pleasant – breaking and entering, grand larceny and conspiracy; Timothy Dale Clagg, 29, Lesage – grand larceny, fraudulent scheme and conspiracy; Russell Lee Clinton, 36, Buffalo – grand larceny, fraudulent scheme and conspiracy; Gary Wayne Cochran, 37, Bancroft – grand larceny, fraudulent scheme, conspiracy; Harold Lee Cochran, 38, Buffalo – grand larceny, fraudulent scheme and conspiracy. Harold Cochran is also charged separately with burglary, battery and destruction of property; Christopher John Corbin, 29, Point Pleasant – 2 counts breaking and entering, fourth degree arson, conspiracy and 2 counts grand larceny; Michael Lee Craig, 30, Letart – grand larceny, conspiracy and aid in concealing stolen goods; Jamar Juel Cutherbertson a/k/a J. J. Cuthbertson, 19, Mason – first degree arson and conspiracy; Eli Wayne Freeland, 20, Pomeroy, Ohio – robbery in the first degree and conspiracy; David Lee Gibbs, 38, Point Pleasant –third or subsequent offense DUI, 2 counts third or subsequent offense driving on revoked-DUI, improper registration and no proof of insurance; Jonathan Franklin Gibbs, 23, West Columbia – 3 counts grand larceny; Charles Wesley Hazlett, 22, Point Pleasant – 2 counts possession of controlled substance with intent to deliver and conspiracy; Lindsey Michelle Hope, 24, Leon – 4 counts possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy; Larry Thomas Huffman, 44, Letart – second offense DUI, third or subsequent offense driving on revoked-DUI, improper registration and no proof of insurance. Huffman is also separately charged with 2 counts of burglary, domestic battery, 2 counts of destruction of property and petit larceny; Everett Albert Hunter, 31, Point Pleasant – failure to appear; Joey Keith Jeffrey, 31, Hurricane – domestic battery and 8 counts maliciously killing and animal; Donald Eugene Johnson II, 24, Mason – burglary and grand larceny; Keith Matthew Johnson, 41, Culloden – breaking and entering and petit larceny; Anthony Levi Jones, 27, Mason – 3 counts wanton endangerment, 3 counts battery and 2 counts assault; Brent Donavan Kapp, 20, West Columbia – first degree arson and conspiracy. Kapp is also charged separately with three counts of first degree arson and conspiracy; Ruth Ann Kerns, 34, Buffalo – grand larceny, fraudulent scheme and conspiracy; Dennis D. Knopp, 48, Leon – 11 counts first degree sexual assault, 8 counts second degree sexual assault, 8 counts third degree sexual assault, 13 counts sexual abuse by a parent, 13 counts incest, 6 counts sexual abuse by a custodian and 6 counts child abuse resulting in bodily injury; Rebecca D. Leon, 19, Point Pleasant – first degree robbery and conspiracy; Andrew Jesse Lewis, 22, Gallipolis Ferry – 4 counts of forgery and 4 counts uttering; Melissa Mae Lynn McCarty, 25, Point Pleasant – 38 counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; Harry Donald Norris, 19, Pliny – burglary, grand larceny and conspiracy; David A. Nott, 45, Point Pleasant – 3 counts delivery of a controlled substance; Michael Shawn Ohlinger, 43, Point Pleasant – malicious assault and domestic battery; Larry Sheridon Riffle II, 28, Hartford – first degree robbery and conspiracy; Brian Christopher Roush, 25, New Haven – grand larceny, conspiracy and aid in concealing stolen goods; Michael Allen Russell, 21, Mason – first degree robbery and conspiracy; Lewis Matthew Sayre, 35, Henderson – second offense domestic battery, first degree sexual abuse, burglary, 2 counts second offense domestic battery, battery, destruction of property and 2 counts second offense battery on an officer; Rex Allen Sayre, 50, Point Pleasant – 4 counts possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy; Sandra Yvonne Sayre, 45, Point Pleasant – grand larceny, fraudulent scheme and conspiracy; William Anthony Sherman, 53, Gallipolis, Ohio – 2 counts possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and conspiracy; Mary Clydie Sigman, 35, Buffalo – 4 counts possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy; Debra Elaine Smith, 53, Bidwell, Ohio – possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; Brandon Edward Spencer, 26, Point Pleasant – grand larceny, conspiracy and destruction of property; Robert Lewis Stewart, 45, Southside – delivery of a controlled substance; Kurtis Swisher, 19, Gallipolis Ferry – burglary, grand larceny and conspiracy; Anthony Edward Tomblin, 24, Huntington – grand larceny, fraudulent scheme and conspiracy; Staci Renee Vance, 36, Point Pleasant – 3 counts vehicle breaking and entering, 3 counts second offense petit larceny; Justin Lee Wamsley, 21, Mason – breaking and entering, petit larceny and battery on an officer; Curtis Leroy Ward, 36, New Haven – grand larceny, conspiracy and aid in concealing stolen goods; Tonie Marie Ward, 33, Mason – 2 counts burglary, 3 counts vehicle breaking and entering and 3 counts petit larceny; David Lee White, 49, Point Pleasant – 4 counts possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy; James Frank Will a/k/a Johnny Will, 26, Point Pleasant – Possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and conspiracy; Carry I. Wills, 23, Point Pleasant – first degree robbery and conspiracy; Cassandra Dawn Windsor, 21, Pomeroy, Ohio – first degree robbery and conspiracy; Rufus Anthony Wright Jr., 35, Point Pleasant – 2 counts possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and conspiracy.
Photo: The state Fire Marshal's Office alleges this abandoned trailer on Front Street in Mason was deliberately torched by volunteer firefighters Brent Kapp and Kim Blake in October 2007. The Fire Marshal's investigation also implicated Jamer Cuthbertson, and Kapp in setting fire to another structure two weeks prior. Though both Kapp and Cuthbertson were indicted Wednesday by the Mason grand jury for arson, Blake, daughter of Mason County 911 director, Chuck Blake, was not.
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