Hillsboro man charged with endangering kids

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A Hillsboro man is facing numerous charges including child endangerment following a traffic stop Tuesday evening.

An affidavit filed with the Hillsboro Municipal Court states that an officer with the Hillsboro Police Department allegedly “observed a tan Buick travelling at a high rate of speed on Fenner Avenue make a left hand turn onto North West Street.” The vehicle also allegedly straddled the white line on the roadway.

The officer reported that he then attempted to stop the vehicle, which eventually turned into an apartment complex. As the officer pulled into the parking lot, the male driver reportedly exited the vehicle and began walking toward the sidewalk.

According to the affidavit, the officer ordered the male – later identified as Jerry C. Dunseith, 46 – to stop. He then advised Dunseith why he had been stopped, and Dunseith reportedly denied the traffic violation.

The officer reported that during this time he “detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from (Dunseith’s) breath,” the affidavit states.

After Dunseith was placed into investigative custody, the officer allegedly found a clear, plastic baggie of marijuana in Dunseith’s front left pocket.

The officer reported that he then attempted to conduct the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, but that Dunseith allegedly “refused to look at the pen and kept stating in a confrontational manner that he was looking (the officer) in the eyes and not at the pen,” according to the affidavit.

The affidavit added that Dunseith was then placed into the patrol car.

The officer reported that two female juveniles were located in the vehicle that Dunseith was allegedly driving, ages 14 and 15.

The 14-year old reported that Dunseith had “picked them up from the movie theater and was driving over the speed limit and weaving all over the road,” according to the affidavit.

She also reportedly told the officer that during the turn from Fenner Avenue on to North West Street, she “closed her eyes because she thought they were going to crash.”

A male front passenger, who was identified as the father of the 15-year-old, reportedly said that he told Dunseith “he should probably pull over and let someone else drive,” the affidavit states. It was not clear from the report whether the 14-year-old was related to either Dunseith or the male passenger.

The officer reported that at that time Dunseith “then became disorderly by yelling and banging his head on the cage inside (the) patrol car,” according to the affidavit. He was transported to the Highland County Justice Center.

Dunseith is charged with operating a vehicle under the influence (OVI) and child endangerment, both first-degree misdemeanors, according to court records. He also faces minor misdemeanor charges for possession of marijuana and failing to drive in marked lanes.

Dunseith appeared in the municipal court on Wednesday. His case is set for a pretrial in August. His bond was set at $5,000 on a probation violation. Court records show that Dunseith was convicted of fourth-degree misdemeanor reckless operation in 2013. Records also show that he was convicted of first-degree misdemeanor OVI last July.

If Dunseith posts his bond, he will be on electronic monitoring house arrest. He will also be on reporting probation and must enroll in substance abuse counseling.

He is prohibited from driving and from possessing alcohol, records add.

Reach Sarah Allen at 937-393-3456, ext. 1680, or on Twitter @SarahAllenHTG.

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Suspect has past convictions for OVI, reckless operation

By Sarah Allen

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