MOUNT VERNON – Drug possession, theft and failure to register as a sex offender comprise the charges that earned four defendants prison sentences in January, the office of Prosecuting Attorney Chip McConville reported.

Michael Ashcraft, 34, of Fredericktown, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for failure to register internet identifiers as a sex offender, a felony of the third degree. Ashcraft did not register social media and messaging applications with the sheriff as required by law. Ashcraft was convicted of unlawful sexual conduct in Knox County in 2013, requiring registration. He also has a prior failure-to-register offense, meaning his new sentence is mandatory and he is not eligible for early release. The case was investigated by MVPD Det. Jessica Butler.

Jerry Swoveland, 54, of Warsaw, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for aggravated possession of drugs, a felony of the third degree; and receiving stolen property, a felony of the fifth degree. The charges stemmed from an April 2020 incident where Danville officers discovered him passed out in a vehicle at the Bridge of Dreams parking lot wearing no pants. He was found to be in possession of 11 grams of methamphetamine and a stolen credit card. The case was investigated by Danville Chief Dan Weckesser, Lt. Mark Perkins and KCSO Det. Lt. Craig Feeney.

Judge Richard Wetzel sentenced two men to prison on Thursday for felony offenses. Raymond Atkins, 34, of Youngstown, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for aggravated possession of drugs. Atkins has a long list of felony priors from all around central Ohio. The case was investigated by KCSO Dep. Zach Miller.

Zachary Boone, 21, homeless, was sentenced to two years in prison for burglary and theft for a May incident in Mount Vernon. The case was investigated by MVPD Ptl. Sarah Wheeler.