Huron Co. grand jury indicts 13

An accused sex offender and a felon suspected of having a stolen firearm are two of the 13 defendants who were indicted Friday.Joseph J. Claus, 41, of 178 Williams St., is accused of compelling the victim "to submit by force or threat of force" Oct. 10, according to the indictment.The Norwalk Police Department received a complaint the morning of Nov. 11 from a Monroeville resident about the suspected sex offense. Sgt. Tom Cook has said the caller alleged Claus inappropriately touched a girl who is younger than 17.Police interviewed Claus, the girl and her parents. Claus, who remains in the Huron County Jail, is charged with gross sexual imposition. The fourth-degree felony is punishable by six to 18 months behind bars.In a separate case, Ronald D. Ruff, 37, of 3560 Niver Road, Willard, is charged with one count each of possession of weapons under disability, possession of cocaine and receiving stolen property, all in connection with an Oct. 1 incident.The Huron County Sheriff's Office arrested Ruff during an Oct. 24 traffic stop on North Main Street in Willard after deputies conducted surveillance near his Niver Road home. "Mr. Ruff was located inside the vehicle. He was a passenger," Detective Sgt. Josh Querin said earlier. "During the traffic stop, he made admissions his DNA would be found on the weapon found inside the vehicle … which was stolen out of Ace Hardware in Willard." On Sept. 25, Ace Hardware employees reported someone entered the store, smashed the glass display cases and stole two rifles and three handguns. Willard Police Chief Mark Holden has said four of the five firearms haven't been recovered and that Ruff has been the subject of "several different investigations going on." The other suspects who were indicted Friday are:Joseph A. Bennett, 25, of 408 S. Old State Road, Apt. 7, on possession of cocaine in connection with a July 24 incident.Christina L. Boggs, 40, of 306 Rae Court, Willard, on trafficking in hydrocodone in connection with an Oct. 11 controlled drug buy. Christopher M. Eads, 43, of Mansfield, on possession of weapons while under disability in connection with a Dec. 7 incident.Seferino J.M. Maltos, 30, of 114 1/2 Dale Ave., Willard, on possession of cocaine in connection with an Oct. 1 incident.Jeremiah J. Mullins, 21, of 31-G Bouscay Ave., on one count each of breaking and entering and theft, both in connection with an incident between Oct. 6 and 10.Michael A. Swann, 27, of 2948 Neal Zick Road, Lot 15, Willard, on one count each of receiving stolen property (motor vehicle) and failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer. Each felony is in connection with a Nov. 2, 2012 incident.Eddie D. Tackett Jr., 26, of 604 Dale Ave., Willard, on attempted burglary in connection with an Oct. 5 incident.Devin M. Vanderpool, 26, of 1946 Greenbush Road, on two counts of theft of a credit card in connection with incidents on Sept. 6 and 27.Brandon M. Wilson, 22, of 427 N. Buckeye St., Bellevue, on burglary in connection with an Oct. 3 incident.Justin R. Wolf, 31, of 805 Armstrong Drive, Willard, on possession of heroin in connection with a July 31 incident.And in other action Friday, grand jurors transferred the first-degree misdemeanor case against Scott M. Ritorto, 39, whose address was unavailable, to Norwalk Municipal Court for further, possible prosecution. He is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle in connection with an Oct. 5 incident.ClausRuff