A man is heading to prison after being sentenced on some very disturbing charges in Hancock County Common Pleas Court.

Raymond F. Carter was indicted in March of 2023 on two counts of rape, pandering sexual oriented material involving a child, and two counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material.

Carter, 35, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of rape of a child under 10-years-old and four child pornography counts.

His sentencing hearing was held on Tuesday in Hancock County Common Pleas Court.   

Hancock County Prosecutor Phil Riegle stated that this is one of the most heinous crimes he has ever prosecuted and argued that Judge Starn sentence Carter to life without parole which is the sentence Judge Starn handed down.

A search warrant carried out at the Perrysburg residence where Carter was staying revealed the evidence that led to the Findlay/Hancock County investigation.

Carter will be sentenced on similar charges in Wood County on Thursday and is also facing charges in Franklin County.

UPDATE – Police say the individual has been identified and thanks the public for its assistance.

The Findlay Police Department is seeking help from the public in identifying a theft suspect.

Police say the man in the surveillance pictures is believed to be responsible for the theft of a large quantity of tools from Menards.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Findlay Police Department at 419-424-7150, message them on Facebook, or call Crime Stoppers at 419-425-TIPS.

Tipsters may be eligible for a reward.

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation has released its 2023 annual report.

President and CEO Brian Treece says their mission is to improve the quality of life for all in the community, and in 2023 the Foundation awarded $4.7 million to deserving nonprofits and students.

Brian says it wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of their donors and the thousands before them.

“The Community Foundation can rise to the challenges in Hancock County because of those donors, grant recipients and partners who join us in addressing the changing needs in our community.”

Click here to go over the Foundation’s 2023 annual report.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is letting people know of some one-day road closures in Findlay.

ODOT says Ventura Drive at County Road 99 will be closed on Tuesday, July 23 for one day for waterline installation.

The work is related to the I-75 and County Road 99 interchange project. 

Additionally, Bigelow Avenue over Interstate 75 will close Wednesday, July 24, for one day for bridge maintenance.

(From Findlay City Schools)

Please be aware that the Findlay Police Department will be conducting emergency response training at Glenwood Middle School on July 24th and Donnell Middle School on July 31st.

An increased number of emergency responders and vehicles will be at these buildings throughout these trainings, with some training taking place into the evening hours.

Thank you to the Findlay Police Department for prioritizing the safety of our community, our students, and our staff through training like this.

The Findlay City Council is deciding whether to implement a moratorium on the establishment of recreational marijuana dispensaries in the city.

The ordinance is listed below:

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TWELVE (12) MONTH MORATORIUM ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ANY CULTIVATION, PROCESSING, OR DISPENSING OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA FACILITIES IN THE CITY OF FINDLAY IN ORDER FOR THE CITY OF FINDLAY, OHIO TO CONSIDER THE RAMIFICATIONS OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA AND POTENTIAL ZONING CHANGES THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

The ordinance requires three readings before city council and the third reading will happen on August 6^th.

Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn was on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks to discuss the possible moratorium and that audio is below.

(From the Columbus Blue Jackets)

Columbus Blue Jackets President and General Manager Don Waddell today announced that Dean Evason has agreed to a multi-year contract to serve as head coach of the National Hockey League club. Evason will be introduced at a press conference at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday, July 23 at 10:30 a.m.

Evason, 59, amassed a 147-77-27 record in 251 games over parts of five seasons as head coach of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. He was named the club’s interim head coach on Feb. 14, 2020, was elevated to head coach on July 13, 2020 and held the position through Nov. 27, 2023. His .639 points percentage ranks fifth among active NHL coaches with 250 or more contestsbehind the bench, while the Wild ranked eighth in the league in points percentage, seventh in goals-per-game (3.28) and 10th in wins during his tenure.He was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, given annually to the NHL’s Coach of the Year, in 2020-21and finished fourth in voting for the award in 2021-22. He led the Wild to appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his first four seasons behind the bench.

“Dean Evason brings to coaching what he brought as a player – passion, hard work and tenacity – and I couldn’t be happier that he will serve as the next head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets,” said Waddell. “He has spent well over two decades in this league as a player, assistant coach and head coach and I believe that experience, combined with the outstanding person he is, will allow Dean to get the best out of our players and put us in a position to succeed as a team.”

Evason originally joined the Wild as an assistant coach on June 6, 2018. He spent the previous six seasons as the head coach of the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals from 2012-18. He guided the club to a record of 242-161-53 (.589) in 456 contests, including a 48-23-5 mark (101 pts./.664) and a Central Division title in 2015-16. During his tenure, the Admirals made four appearances in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

“I am incredibly proud and honored to be named the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets and appreciate very much the opportunity that Don, the McConnell family and Mike Priest have extended to me,” said Evason. “There is a great core and a lot of young talent on this team. I am really looking forward to working with this group and helping us become a team that playsextremely hard and competes at the highest level.”

Prior to Milwaukee, Evason spent seven campaigns as an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals from 2005-12. During that time, Washington captured four consecutive Southeast Division titles (2007-11), advanced to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his last five seasons (2007-12) and won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2009-10.

Evason began his coaching career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) as an assistant coach with the Calgary Hitmen (1998-99). He then served as a head coach of the Kamloops Blazers for three seasons (1999-2002), the Vancouver Giants for two campaigns (2002-04) and co-coach of the Hitmen in 2004-05.

Internationally, Evason has represented Canada at numerous tournaments, both as a player and coach. He skated in the 1984 IIHF World Junior Championships and served as captain of the Canadian National Team during the 1996-97 season, leading the club to a gold medal at the 1997 IIHF World Championships. He most recently served as an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Championships.

A center, Evason was selected in the fifth round, 89th overall, by the Capitals in the 1982 NHL Draft. He finished a 13-year NHL career with 139 goals and 233 assists for 372 points with 1,000 penalty minutes in 803 games with the Capitals, Hartford Whalers, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars and Calgary Flames from 1983-96. He played the final three seasons of his career in Europe, first with EV Zug in Switzerland (part of 1996-97) before spending two campaigns with EV Landshut in Germany (1997-99).

He played junior hockey with the WHL’s Spokane Flyers and Kamloops Junior Oilers, racking up 150-251-401 in 200 careeroutings from 1980-84. In 1982-83, he tallied 71-93-164 in 70 games and the following season added 49-88-137 in 57 outings to help Kamloops advance to the Memorial Cup Tournament.Evason was born on Aug. 22, 1964, in Flin Flon, Manitoba. He is married to Genevieve and has three children, Bryce, Brianne and Brooke, as well as two grandsons, Connor and Hudson.

(From the Findlay-Hancock Community Foundation)

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation is pleased to welcome two new members to the Board of Trustees. Rodney Walton, Senior Vice President and Private Banking Manager at Premier Bank, and Chris Ward, Professor Emeritus at the University of Findlay, have joined the board in 2024.

“We are pleased to welcome Rod and Chris to our board of community leaders,” said Patty Lucas, Foundation Board Chair. “Each has a unique perspective on our community and is incredibly talented. We look forward to working toward our vision of a lasting community impact with their support.”

Rod has 40+ years of experience in local banking, including 25 years with Premier Bank, formerly First Federal. He received his degree in Business Administration from the University of Toledo. Rod is involved with the University of Findlay athletics committee, Findlay Rotary Club, Hancock Leadership Alumni Association, Findlay Elks Lodge, First Presbyterian Church and the Hancock County Republican Committee. He was previously involved with the Foundation’s finance and investment committee, the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts founding board, the Findlay Country Club board, the Benton Ridge Telephone Company board, the Arts Partnership board, University of Toledo Hancock County Alumni chapter, University of Toledo athletics committee, Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, UF’s business advisory committee, United Way, Findlay Salvation Army, Flag City Honor Flight, and more. Rod’s honors and awards include the HLAA Distinguished Leadership Award, First Fed Chairman’s Club Award, First Federal President’s Club Award, First Federal Soaring Eagle Sales Award, First Federal’s Jeff Vereecke Community Impact Award, and the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts Spotlight Award.

Chris is a professor emeritus at the University of Findlay and is a business leadership and career coach. Chris received her associate’s degree in business management from Owens Community College, a bachelor’s degree in business management from UF, a Master of Business Administration from UF, and a Doctor of Education from the University of Sarasota. Chris has served as a professor at Owens, Findlay, and Tiffin University. Chris is involved with TCF’s grants and scholarship committee, Raise the Bar – Workforce Advance, and Community of Excellence Level 1 Reviewer and Team Lead. She previously served with several organizations, including United Way of Hancock County, Partnership for Excellence, Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanity, Blanchard Valley Center, Black Swamp Area Council (BSA), Owens Community College, and more. Chris’ awards and honors include the ATHENA award, Harriet Ritz Smith Service Award, Shiv Gupta Excellence in Teaching Award, and more.

“I am excited about our newest board members, both of which bring a wealth of business knowledge and community connections to our board,” said Brian Treece, Foundation President & CEO. “Having Rod and Chris on board will help us further our mission to improve the quality of life for all in the community.”

Rod and Chris fill a vacant seat and replace Gary Wilson, who served from 2012-2024.

The Findlay Police Department is requesting help from the public in identifying a theft suspect.

Police say the man in the surveillance pictures is believed to be responsible for the theft of a large amount of electronics from area Walmarts.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Findlay Police Department at 419-424-7150, message them on Facebook, or call Crime Stoppers at 419-425-TIPS.

Tipsters may be eligible for a reward.

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

Wednesday, July 17, the Licking County Prosecutor’s Office brought forth six charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, nine charges of vehicular assault and 11 charges of assault against Jacob McDonald, 60, Zanesville.

McDonald was responsible for a fatal crash on November 14, 2023, that resulted in the death of six people – Dave Kennat, 56, Navarre; Kristy Gaynor, 39, Zoar; Shannon Wigfield, 45, Bolivar; John W. Mosley, 18, Mineral City; Jeffery D. Worrell, 18, Bolivar; and Katelyn N. Owens, 15, Mineral City. Mosley, Worrell and Owens were students from Tuscarawas Valley High School.

The Licking County Grand Jury heard testimony from an Ohio State Highway Patrol reconstructionist and others. McDonald was indicted on all 26 charges, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

On Thursday, July 18, Ohio State Highway Patrol Granville Post troopers, with the assistance of the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office, executed the warrant and arrested McDonald. He was booked into the Licking County Justice Center. On Friday, July 19, McDonald appeared before the Licking County Common Pleas Court and was given a bond of $1 million.