Years

Ohio man indicted 25 years after Charles Ballard found shot and burned in home

Brian Swanson Charged with 2000 Murder of Charles Ballard

**Columbus, OH -** Brian Swanson, 48, has been indicted for the murder of Charles “Chico” Ballard, which occurred 25 years ago. On February 9, 2000, Ballard’s body was discovered in his home on the 300 block of E. 17th Ave.

Officers responding to the scene found that Ballard, then aged 22, had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and his body had been set on fire. It took until last Friday for Swanson to be arrested in connection with the crime.

Swanson’s arrest marks a significant development in the prolonged investigation into Ballard’s death.

Details about the case are discussed in the podcast, The Fifth Floor, which can be found on all major podcast platforms.

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Port Jervis Drug Dealer Gets Six Years in Prison

**Port Jervis, NY** – On Wednesday, Enido Rumaldo, 21, of Port Jervis was sentenced to six years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision after pleading guilty to the criminal sale of a controlled substance in the second degree. Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced the sentencing.

The case against Rumaldo arose from a long-term investigation into narcotics possession and sale in the Port Jervis area. During the investigation, Rumaldo sold narcotics to undercover officers in Port Jervis on four occasions in the fall of last year. On October 16, he sold 63 grams of cocaine to an undercover officer. After the sale, a search of his vehicle revealed additional narcotics, scales, and packaging materials.

District Attorney Hoovler expressed gratitude to several law enforcement agencies, including the Port Jervis Police Department, Orange County Drug Task Force, and Middletown Police Department for their roles in the investigation. Other participating agencies included the Town of Wallkill Police Department, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the Pike County District Attorney’s Office, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hudson Valley Crime Analyst Center.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Alexis Gregory is prosecuting the case.

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Kentucky Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Exploitation

Kentucky Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Exploitation

**Walton, KY** – A Kentucky resident was sentenced to 30 years in prison for producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) while in the Philippines.

Court documents state that Robert Maxwell Werner, 46, from Walton, Kentucky, engaged in illegal activities between February 2021 and November 2021. Werner reportedly bought access from a Filipino associate to several minor victims for various sexual activities and also paid for customized CSAM. He is accused of sexually abusing minors during five in-person meetings at different locations in the Philippines and providing them with money and basic necessities.

Werner’s plea agreement includes an admission of engaging in sexually explicit acts with at least one minor to create visual depictions from July 2021 to November 2021. He further admitted to transporting this material into the U.S. and continued soliciting CSAM after his return to the country.

The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit, along with Philippine authorities, investigated the case. It was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth as part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative addressing child sexual exploitation and abuse.

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Father Sentenced to 45 Years for Child Abuse of Daughter

Man Sentenced to 45 Years for Child Abuse

**Freehold, NJ** – A Marlboro Township resident has been sentenced to 45 years in state prison. The sentencing follows the conviction for the sexual and physical abuse of his daughter over a period spanning more than six years.

Andrey V. Penkin, aged 51, will be required to serve at least 37 years of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. This information was disclosed by Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago.

The announcement took place on Friday, underscoring the severity of the crimes committed by Penkin. The prosecutor emphasized the gravity of the offenses and the extensive duration over which the abuse occurred.

Details regarding the exact timeline or other specifics surrounding the case have not been provided. However, the prosecution expressed intentions to ensure justice was served.

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