City man indicted in August incident

A Watertown man has been indicted on allegations that he tried to seriously injure another man by hitting him with his vehicle in August.

James N. Simmons,46, faces counts of first-degree attempted assault, second-degree reckless endangerment and leaving the scene of personal-injury motor vehicle accident.

The charges were contained in a grand jury indictment handed up Thursday in Jefferson County Court.

It is alleged that he drove his vehicle directly at Robert S. Champion, Watertown, on Aug. 30 in a Factory Street parking lot. According to police, Mr. Chapman suffered only scratches and bruises in the incident, despite being thrust onto the hood and windshield of the auto. The pair had been involved in a verbal altercation, police said.

It is further alleged that Mr. Simmons left the scene without reporting it to police.

In other indictments handed up Thursday:

Tamunosemieibi R. Iyalla,27, Watertown, faces counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and third degree assault.

It is alleged that he forcibly stole a cellular phone from Alicea Y. Tansmore, Watertown, on Sept. 25 as she was trying to call police. He is also accused of accused of choking the victim, causing bruising to her neck.

It is further alleged that on Dec. 2 he threatened to harm her if she continued to provide prosecutors with information about the incident and that he told her to send prosecutors a letter seeking dismissal of the charges.

Susanne H. Jenness,38, Watertown, faces seven counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and single counts of third-degree grand larceny, third-degree criminal possession of stolen property and third-degree welfare fraud.

It is alleged that she received more than $3,000 in Department of Social Service's child-care benefits between July 2004 and January 2009 while failing to disclose that Richard Howard was living with her, thus making her ineligible for the benefits.

Bruce A. Lee,50, Dexter, is charged with felony driving while ability impaired by drugs and operating a vehicle out of class. He was charged June 27 with DWAI on Walton Street in Alexandria Bay while driving a motorcycle without a proper operator's license.

The grand jury also returned two no bills, clearing Antonio Reyes, 24, Watertown, of second-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal mischief and endangering the welfare of a child, and clearing Richard C. Mono, 41, Carthage, of first-degree criminal sexual act.

The jury found there was insufficient evidence to support allegations that Mr. Reyes engaged in a domestic dispute with his wife in the presence of their children in August. The jury also concluded Mr. Mono should face no charges as a result of a Nov. 7 incident in Carthage. No further information about the initial charge was available.