SIDNEY — The former Ohio State Trooper and retired Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Deputy facing charges of soliciting and possessing criminal tools was indicted by a Shelby County grand jury on a charge of promoting prostitution on Thursday.
William Steinke, 70, of Sidney, is accused of “knowingly induce a female to engage in sexual activity for money in an effort to establish a brothel or other enterprise, a purpose of which was to facilitate an engagement in sexual activity for hire.”
The new charge is a fourth-degree felony.
In late October, Steinke was arrested after a sting operating was conducted with a known prostitute in the area, according to the police report filed with the municipal court records.
The woman was picked up on another crime and provided the office with information that one of her clients was a former law enforcement officer. They had her wear a recording device and meet up with him, according to the report.
According to personnel files obtained by our partners WDTN 2 News, while Steinke was a deputy at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, he had a few issues.
This includes an incident when he pulled over a 16-year-old girl who had been drinking and after an “inappropriate” contraband search, let the teen drive off on her own. The teen later crashed the car in Darke County. Though not illegal, the sheriff at the time, Kevin O’Leary, allotted the funds to pay $2,220.36 for the damage done to the vehicle, according to 2 News.
After that incident, Steinke was “forced” into retirement by his superiors just days later — Nov. 9, 2006. There was also an incident where he was caught looking at pornographic material on his government-issued computer previously in his career, 2 News reported.
The new felony charge was combined with his misdemeanors to create one case in the Shelby County Common Pleas Court.
He was summonsed on the charges to appear for a group arraignment on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 10 a.m.
Others indicted Thursday morning include the suspects in the car jacking, high speed chase, and shooting last week.
Travis Wickline, 28, of Charleston, West Virginia, was indicted on two counts of felonious assault, one count of kidnapping, one count of attempted murder, one count of having weapons under disability, one count of failure to comply with the order of a police officer, one count of theft, and one count of domestic violence. Eight counts total with four specifications.
Ashley Wayson, 31, of Charleston, West Virginia, was indicted on one count of obstructing justice, a third-degree felony.
Both are still being held in the Shelby County Jail. They will appear for arraignment on Thursday as well.
The following other people were formally indicted too:
• Benjamin G. Rains, 31, of Jackson Center, was indicted on three counts of burglary with a specification. He was arrested after allegedly forcing his way into a Sidney residence in October. Jewelry taken from the residence was found in his possession minutes after having allegedly committing the burglary. His wife, also arrested in the incident, entered a guilty plea to a bill of information for this incident and a previous indictment against her. Mackenzie (Counts) Rains, 24, will appear for sentencing on Dec. 19 at 10 a.m.
• Nicholas L. Wood, 37, of Sidney, was indicted on one count of trafficking in drugs and one count of having weapons while under disability. He was arrested last week after a narcotics search warrant was executed at his home.
• James Reynolds Jr., 30, of Southfield, Michigan, was indicted on 23 count of identity fraud, one count of possessing criminal tools, and one count of driving under suspension, all felonies of the fifth degree.
• Christopher J. Briesmeister, 36, of Knoxville, Tennessee, was indicted on one count of possession of drugs, and one count of possessing criminal tools, both felonies of the fifth degree.
• Marcella Hauff, 37, at large, was indicted on one count of possession of drugs, and one count of possessing criminal tools, both felonies of the fifth degree.
• Michael McClellan, 29, of Sidney, was indicted on one count of burglary, a felony of the fourth degree.
• Keesha Powers, 24, of Sidney, was indicted on one count of permitting drug abuse, a felony of the fifth degree.
• Shawn Greer, 33, of Sidney, was indicted on one count of possession of drugs, and one count of possessing criminal tools, both felonies of the fifth degree.
• Jackie Benton, 64, of Ada, Ohio, was indicted on one count of failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer, one count of assault, one count of driving under suspension, and one count of petty theft.
• Jacob Martin, 33, of Sidney, was indicted on one count of failure to appear, a felony of the fourth degree.
• Daniel J. Lewis, 25, of Van Wert, Ohio, was indicted on one count of possession of drugs, and one count of possessing criminal tools, both felonies of the fifth degree.
• Kenneth Perkins, 42, of Saint Clair Shores, Michigan, was indicted on one count of possession of drugs, a felony of the fifth degree.
