Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
Former Sweet Home resident David Ross Nonnemaker, 46, was sentenced Dec. 1 to 60 months in prison on eight counts of theft for bilking investors in a timber and mining scam.
The charges included one count of first-degree aggravated theft and seven counts of first-degree theft. Nonnemaker of Longview, Wash., pleaded guilty on Nov. 6 to the counts.
Six counts of first-degree aggravated theft and one count first-degree theft were dismissed.
He also was ordered to pay restitution of $167,089 each to Yvonne Hurst and John Howard, $1,625 to Gary Ashley, $6,600 to Robert Craig, $13,090 to Rick Grenz, $3,500 to David Henderson, $3,661 to Steve Purcell, $3,600 to Stacey Passeri and $900 to Brock Stephens.
He also received 24 months of post-prison supervision.
He also lost a lawsuit in connection to the case and was ordered to pay $900,000 to two victims in the theft cases.
Nonnemaker, who was a Sweet Home area resident at the time, was arrested in October 2005 and accused of obtaining money from investors to develop mining claims and harvest timber at the Quartzville townsite, where he allegedly had no authority to harvest timber or mine.
Sheriff’s detectives identified four landowners in the area who were unaware that the mining operation and timber harvest was going on, and six investors who, Sheriff Tim Mueller said, gave Nonnemaker “large sums of money” in the belief that he was authorized to work in the area.
Investors and landowners victimized in the case include individuals in Germany, New York, Missouri, Oregon, California and Alaska, the sheriff said. Nonnemaker, who operated under the business name of “Western Sand and Gravel” and “Western Mining.” Western Sand and Gravel was incorporated in Oregon in May 2004.
Victims listed in the case include Yvonne Hurst, John Howard, Weyerhaeuser, Mary’s River Lumber, Bald Knob Veneer Company, Zip-I Log Mills, Pacific Lumber Company, Sheik Rahman, Stacey Passeri, Rick Grenz and Gary Ashley, according to Circuit Court records.
In other Circuit Court actions,
– Christopher Allen Ennis, 23, pleaded guilty to a charge of third-degree assault in connection to an Oct. 8 stabbing.
Ennis was sentenced to 24 months of prison and 24 months of post-prison supervision.
He was fined $607.
– Three persons were sentenced on Dec. 29 in connection with an Oct. 23 drug raid at 1124 18th Ave.
Elbert Samuel Hackworth, 48, pleaded guilty to manufacturing a controlled substance, methamphetamine, within 1,000 feet of a school, a class A felony. He was sentenced to 25 months in prison with 36 months of post-prison supervision.
Charges of distribution of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, were dismissed.
Hackworth also pleaded guilty to identity theft and second-degree theft. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail for identity theft with a $107 fine and 30 days in jail for second-degree theft and a $317 fine with restitution of $67.20 to Sweet Home Liquor and $257.24 to Wal-Mart.
Danny Ray Roebuck, 52, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine and was sentenced to 18 months probation. Charges of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, and second-degree theft were dismissed.
Judy Rea Owen, 55, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, and possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and received 18 months probation.
Owen also was charged $780 in fees and fines. Charges of distribution of a controlled substance, marijuana and methamphetamine, within 1,000 feet of a school were dismissed.