Aggravated arson and aggravated burglary charges against Joseph Huff Ray, 38, were handed down by the DeKalb County Grand Jury, and he was arrested on Sept. 8, 2020.
The charges stem from a cabin fire that took place in January of this year, where evidence proved Ray and a female had been. A sheriff’s detective received information about posts to a social media site which showed the outside of the cabin on Smith Fork along with antique keys at the home. The TBI assisted the DeKalb County Sheriff’s office with the investigation at the scene.
A man sleeping in someone’s yard was arrested and charged with criminal impersonation.
Ivan Martel Young, 60, of Spencer was arrested after a person at a home on Ferrell Road reported a man in the yard that they were not sure if he was dead or alive. When a sheriff’s deputy arrived and asked the man his name, he gave the name of Steven Young. He said he did not have identification. A detective at the scene identified him as Ivan Young. A check verified he had outstanding warrants out of DeKalb and Van Buren County. After a search, an i.d. was found verifying he was Ivan Martel Young.
Michael Joseph Lee, 30, of Smithville was arrested and charged with aggravated criminal trespass on Sept. 14. Lee entered a garage on Old Snow Hill Road knowing he did not have the consent of the owner to be there.
Michael Lloyd Ballinger, 41, of Lebanon was arrested on Sept. 18 two counts of theft of property, burglary and vandalism.
On Aug. 22, 2020 Ballinger entered a 2015 Chevy Equinox at the Long Branch Recreation Area and took items belonging to two separate people which included two bags of assorted bag of clothing, a rose-gold purse, an IPhone, 14kt diamond engagement ring, a beach bag full of clothing, a cross-body purse with miscellaneous credit cards. Each person’s belongings were valued over $1,000. Ballinger damaged front and rear passenger windows of the Equinox in order to gain entry. The total damage to the vehicle was valued over $2,000.67
Matthew Edwin Riihimaa, 67, of Silver Point was arrested Sept. 19 for violation of an order of protection. Riihimaa violated the order after being at a residence of a female who had taken out the protection order. This is his second violation of the order.
