The Cole County grand jury handed down several indictments this week, finding enough evidence to send cases on to the circuit courts for possible trial.
Among those indicted were:
• A Mokane woman charged with trying to steal more than 150 items from a Walmart in Jefferson City.
Court records show Jessica Harris, 26, has a lengthy criminal history involving multiple stealing arrests and drug violations.
A Jefferson City Police Department probable cause statement shows Harris was walking out of the Walmart on Supercenter Drive in June, pushing a cart full of items out a closed fire door and onto the parking lot.
This set an alarm off in the store.
Harris had paid for three bottles of Pepsi and a bottle of water, but failed to pay for 156 other items.
The total value of the items was more than $1,450.
Harris told police she thought her boyfriend had paid for the merchandise.
• A Jefferson City man charged with distributing heroin in the Jefferson City limits.
Steven Dennis, 33, of 1015 Timber Road, is charged with four counts of distributing heroin from January through April.
He was on parole for a 10-year sentence for four counts of distribution of controlled substances and was also considered a persistent drug offender with four prior convictions for distribution of controlled substances.
Court documents show the sales were recorded via audio and video recorders by authorities, and the substances field-tested positive for heroin.
• Two people were taken into custody after an August chase with authorities in Cole County.
Authorities identified Rodney Ronimous, 42, Columbia, as the driver and Jennifer Johnson, 26, Holts Summit, as his passenger.
Ronimous was charged with two counts of second-degree assault of a law officer, possession of heroin, resisting arrest, two counts of first-degree property damage and driving while revoked.
Johnson was charged with resisting arrest, receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance.
According to Cole County Sheriff's Department reports, a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle on U.S. 54 at Ellis Boulevard.
The vehicle failed to yield, and a pursuit ensued.
The pursuit went from Ellis Boulevard to Route C, Vieth Drive, Southridge Drive, Concord Avenue, Lexington Drive and ended up in the front yard of 1956 Saratoga Drive.
During the pursuit, Ronimous intentionally rammed the initiating sheriff's deputy's car twice and a second deputy's car once.
No one was injured, and Ronimous and Johnson were taken into custody.
• A Chicago man for distributing heroin in the Jefferson City limits.
Gregory Wright, 23, was charged with two counts of distributing heroin in May and June.
Court documents show the sales were recorded via audio and video recorders by authorities and the substances field-tested positive for heroin.
• A Jefferson City man charged with robbing a man who had scheduled a massage at a Jefferson City home in August.
Jered Blair, 26, was charged with first-degree robbery and armed criminal action.
According to police, the male victim told officers he was robbed at gunpoint of $1,400 in cash and a phone.
The victim said he went to the home and encountered Blair in a downstairs bedroom. The victim said Blair brandished a handgun and stuck it in the victim's face.
The victim was forced into a bathroom and made to wait while Blair went out to the victim's vehicle and forced open the locked glove box and took the man's wallet, which was inside.
Blair came back inside and told the victim he would be killed if he told police what happened.
The victim was then given his keys and told to leave the area, so he drove away.