Ashland County Common Pleas Court, as photographed in 2024. (Ashland Source file photo) Credit: Dillon Carr

ASHLAND — The following criminal charges were filed in April with the Ashland County Common Pleas Court.

Indictments

The following 13 people were the subject of an indictment and have or will appear before the Ashland County Common Pleas Court: 

  • Brittany Bryans, 37, of Ashland, was charged with aggravated possession of drugs. The charge was filed by Ashland police on April 21 in connection to an incident authorities say happened on April 20.
  • Richard Clarkson, 56, of Howard, Ohio, was charged with aggravated possession of drugs. The charge was filed by the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) on April 8 in connection to an incident authorities say happened on April 6.
  • Danielle Coffman, 34, of Ashland, was charged with tampering with evidence and possession of a fentanyl-related compound. The charges were filed by an Ashland County grand jury on April 10 in connection to an incident authorities say happened March 14.
  • Lori Emmons, 36, of Ashland, was charged with trespassing in a habitation when person is present and grand theft of a motor vehicle. The charges were filed by ACSO on April 3 in connection to incidents authorities say happened March 29 to April 1.
  • Brian Esbenshade, 56, was charged with tampering with evidence and three counts each of aggravated trafficking of drugs and aggravated possession of drugs. The charges were filed by an Ashland County grand jury on April 10 in connection to incidents authorities say happened on Sept. 25 and Jan. 31. Court documents list Esbenshade as “homeless.”
  • Troy Fox, 51, of Nova, was charged with violation of firework manufacturer prohibitions, illegally manufacturing or possession of explosives and possessing criminal tools. The charges were filed by an Ashland County grand jury on April 10 in connection to an incident authorities say happened on Feb. 19.
  • Nolberto Gonzales, 48, of Columbus, was charged with forgery and attempt to commit an offense. The charges were filed by Ashland police on April 7 in connection to an incident authorities say happened April 4.
  • Amanda Gray, 38, of Ashland, was charged with aggravated possession of drugs. The charge was filed by Ashland police on April 17 in connection to an incident authorities say happened April 15.
  • Joshua Harvey, 38, of Wooster, was charged with strangulation, disrupting public service and assault. The charges were filed by ACSO on April 4 in connection to an incident authorities say happened April 3.
  • Cody Kilgore, 41, of Savannah, was charged with felonious assault. The charge was filed Ashland police on April 11 in connection to an incident authorities say happened April 9.
  • Terrance Kinney, 44, of Ashland, was charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. The charge was filed by Ashland police on April 18 in connection to an incident authorities say happened April 16.
  • Russell Norris II, 41, of Ashland, was charged with possession of cocaine and grand theft. The charges were filed by ACSO on April 3 in connection to an incident authorities say happened March 29 through April 1.
  • Jeremy Samstad, 42, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was charged with being a fugitive from justice. The charge was filed by ACSO on April 24 in connection to an incident authorities say happened April 4. The complaint said Samstad faced felony charges stemming from Lyon County in Kentucky.

Lead reporter for Ashland Source who happens to own more bikes than pairs of jeans. His coverage focuses on city and county government, and everything in between. He lives in Mansfield with his wife and...