Zanesville, Ohio

From the Zanesville Times Recorder of January 18, 2006

No charges brought in fatal shooting

A Fultonham man who was involved in a shooting last Thursday walked out of the county jail a free man after a grand jury declined to indict him.

Kenneth H. Brown, 61, was held at the Muskingum County Jail since last Thursday evening after he shot and killed his 53-year old neighbor, Billy E. Dodson, both of 8815 “B” Maysville Pike.

According to Chief Prosecutor Michael Haddox, Brown shot Dodson in the face with a 12-gauge pump shotgun after being attacked by Dodson.

“I would say the grand jury felt the shooting was justified,” Haddox said.

Brown had been charged with having a weapon under disability, but the grand jury did not indict him on that charge, either, Haddox said.

“Even though he is under the disability for the rest of his life, the grand jury apparently felt they did not have reason to charge him with even that,” Haddox said.

Brown had three prior violent convictions in Muskingum County, New Mexico and California which lead to the disability, Haddox explained.

“I still believe in our process,” Haddox said. “Our criminal justice system may not be perfect but it is the best and fairest in the world.”