The Jackson County Grand Jury returned 30 felony indictments late Wednesday afternoon following deliberations last week at the county courthouse.

Twenty-seven individuals were indicted, some of whom received multiple indictments for separate crimes. 

Interim Prosecuting Attorney Roger Williams and his staff presented the cases to the Grand Jury.
Those indicted were presented copies of the charges against them by Judge David W. Nibert, Friday morning in Circuit Court. 

Those indicted were (in order by case number):

•  Kurtis A. Barnett was indicted on two felony counts of accident involving death.  According to the indictment, Barnett allegedly failed to immediately stop his vehicle or render aid or provide information at the scene of an accident resulting in the death of Richard Ryan Smith and Robert Keith Sayre in August 2008.  Indictment was based on the testimony of Lt. C.C. Metz of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. 

•  Rondus A. Casto was indicted on one felony count of delivery of a controlled substance (Oxycodone) and one felony count of possession of a controlled substance (Oxycodone) with intent to deliver.  According to the indictment, Casto allegedly possessed and sold Oxycodone to a confidential informant in November 2008.  The indictment was based on the testimony of Deputy R.H. Mellinger of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. 

•  Daniel Cavender was indicted on one felony count of welfare fraud and one felony count of conspiracy to commit a felony.  According to the indictment, between November 2007 and July 2008 Cavender allegedly conspired with Cealea Cavender to knowingly withhold information concerning income and household composition in order to receive $3,452.67 in welfare assistance. The indictment was based on the testimony of Department of Health and Human Resources Welfare Investigator Timothy Tomer. 

•  Kenneth G. Stewart was indicted on two felony counts of grand larceny.  According to the indictment, Stewart allegedly carried away nine heavy steel towing attachments and various pieces of new steel fabrication material from BCA Fabrication in July 2008.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Sheriff Department Captain H.L. Faber. 

•  Cealea Cavender was indicted on one felony count of welfare fraud and one felony count of conspiracy to commit a felony.  According to the indictment, between November 2007 and July 2008 Cavender allegedly conspired with Daniel Cavender to knowingly withhold information concerning income and household composition in order to receive $3,452.67 in welfare assistance. The indictment was based on the testimony of Department of Health and Human Resources Welfare Investigator Timothy Tomer.

•  Kristopher D. Creel was indicted on one felony count of grand larceny, one felony count of conspiracy to commit a felony, one misdemeanor count of petit larceny and one misdemeanor count of conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor.  According to the indictment, in May 2009 Creel conspired with a juvenile accomplice to steal a 1998 Ford Expedition from Carroll’s Used Cars and one license plate from a car belonging to Kathy Workman that was parked at the Ripley 7-11 store.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Ripley Police Department Sergeant R.L. Cain. 

•  Steven U. Hammon was indicted on three felony counts of child neglect creating risk of injury and one felony count of 3rd offense driving while license revoked for DUI.  According to the indictment, in April 2009 Hammon neglected three separate children in a manner that created risk of serious bodily injury and was also found to be driving in Jackson County after his license had been revoked following a DUI conviction in Kanawha County.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Sergeant S.E. Wolfe of the West Virginia State Police. 

•  Katy M. Rocha was indicted on one felony count of nighttime burglary, one misdemeanor count of petit larceny, one felony count of conspiracy to commit a felony, and one misdemeanor count of conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor.  According to the indictment, in November 2008 Rocha conspired with Mark D. Stokes to enter the home of Kester Leighton Cobb to steal cash, bank cards, and blank checks with a value of less than $1,000.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Sergeant T.T. Roberts of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. 

•  Sandra S. Mitchell-Wade was indicted on one felony count of 3rd offense driving while license revoked for DUI.  According to the indictment, in March 2009, Mitchell-Wade was found to be driving a vehicle after having her license revoked for two separate convictions for driving under the influence.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Patrolman D.G. Prechtl of the Ravenswood Police Department. 

•  Sandra S. Mitchell was indicted on one felony count of grand larceny.  According to the indictment, in March 2009 Mitchell stole a Cub Cadet lawnmower from John Myers.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Senior Trooper C.A. May of the West Virginia State Police. 

•  Pamela L. Redman was indicted on one felony count of possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) with intent to deliver, one felony count of conspiracy to commit a felony, one misdemeanor count of fleeing on foot, and one misdemeanor count of driving while license revoked.  According to the indictment, in March 2009 Redman conspired with Jason R. Swindler and Jacob A. Hunter to possess marijuana with the intent to deliver.  She was also charged with fleeing from a police officer as he was attempting to make an arrest as well as driving on a highway while her license was revoked.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy R.D. Rhodes. 

•  David J. Salerno, Jr., was indicted on one felony count of possession of a controlled substance (Oxycodone) with intent to deliver and one felony count of conspiracy to commit a felony.  According to the indictment, in April 2009 Salerno conspired with James A. Peronti to possess Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, with the intent to deliver.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Captain H.L. Faber of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. 

•  Mark D. Stokes was indicted on one felony count of conspiracy to commit a felony, one misdemeanor count of conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor, one misdemeanor count of obstructing an officer and one misdemeanor count of battery on a police officer.  According to the indictment, in November 2008 Stokes conspired with Katy M. Rocha to commit nighttime burglary and petit larceny against Kester Leighton Cobb.  It also claims that stokes obstructed law enforcement and also committed battery against Deputy J.A. Pinson of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Sheriff’s Sergeant T.T. Roberts and Deputy J.A. Pinson. 

•  Eugene S. Chaney was indicted on one felony count of attempting to operate a clandestine laboratory, one felony count of manufacturing a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and one felony count of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) with intent to deliver.  According to the indictment, in March 2009 Chaney attempted to operate a clandestine drug lab, did manufacture meth and possess it with intent to deliver.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Captain H.L. Faber of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. 

•  Mark A. Blair was indicted on one felony count of possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) with intent to deliver.  According to the indictment, in February 2009 Blair was found to be in possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Jackson County Sheriff Deputy R.H. Mellinger. 

•  Carl R. Workman was indicted on three felony counts of obtaining money, property or services by false pretenses and three felony counts of felony worthless checks.  According to the indictment, in October and November 2008, Workman obtained three vehicles from Kevin Lockhart, Daniel Stepp and Bryan Fisher by writing checks from accounts that did not have sufficient funds.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Deputy M.D. Strobbe of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. 

•  James A. Peronti was indicted on one felony count of possession of a controlled substance (Oxycodone) with intent to deliver and one felony count of conspiracy to commit a felony. According to the indictment, in April 2009 Peronti conspired with David J. Salerno, Jr., to possess Oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, with the intent to deliver.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Captain H.L. Faber of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.

•  Justin L. Williams was indicted on one felony count of possession of a controlled substance (Oxycodone) with intent to deliver and one felony count of conspiracy to commit a felony.  According to the indictment, in April 2009 Williams conspired with Justin D. Griffith and Joshua W. Thompson to possess Oxycodone with intent to deliver.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Captain H.L. Faber of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. 

•  Shawn M. Richards was indicted on three felony counts of sexual assault in the first degree and three felony counts of sexual abuse by a person in a position of trust.  According to the indictment, between 2005 and February 2009 Richards engaged in acts of sexual intrusion and intercourse with a female child, born in 2002, that was under his care.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Captain H.L. Faber of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. 

•  Theresa A. Morriston was indicted on one felony count of grand larceny.  According to the indictment, in January 2008 Morriston stole approximately 250,000 baseball cards, with a value in excess of $1,000, from Harold Whitehouse.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Deputy B.L. Varney of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. 

•  Mary C. Carroll was indicted on one felony count of 3rd offense driving under the influence.  According to the indictment, in January 2009 Carroll was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol after having been previously convicted of the crime in November 2000 and July 2004.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Sergeant R.L. Cain of the Ripley Police Department. 

•  Brooke L. Tribett was indicted on two felony counts of uttering, one felony count of attempting to commit a felony, and one felony count of conspiracy to commit a felony.  According to the indictment, in February 2009 Tribett conspired with Tracie Huffman and Autumn Kessell to utter forged checks on the account of Larry Thompson at Gino’s in Ravenswood and Wal-Mart in Ripley and attempt to utter a forged check at the Duke and Duchess Shop in Ripley.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Deputy R.H. Mellinger at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. 

•  Gene A Holbert, II, was indicted on one felony count of malicious assault.  According to the indictment, in February 2009 Holbert maliciously assaulted Damon L. Baker with the intent to main, disfigure, disable or kill by striking him multiple times with an aluminum baseball bat.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Sergeant T.T. Roberts of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. 

•  Jonathan D. Isom, II, was indicted on one felony count of grand larceny, two felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony, one felony count of bringing stolen property into the state, one misdemeanor count of leaving the scene of an accident, and one misdemeanor count of conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor.  According to the indictment, in April 2009 Isom conspired with Robert O. West, Jr., to bring a stolen vehicle into the state, steal a 1997 Dodge Caravan from Amanda Burgess and fail to stop and remain at the scene of an accident.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Trooper First Class D.R. Herdman of the West Virginia State Police. 

•  Justin D. Griffith was indicted on one felony count of possession of a controlled substance (Oxycodone) with intent to deliver and one felony count of conspiracy to commit a felony.  According to the indictment, in April 2009, Griffith conspired with Justin L. Williams and Joshua W. Thompson to possess Oxycodone with intent to deliver.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Captain H.L. Faber of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. 

•  Douglas R. Vannest was indicted on one felony count of possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) with intent to deliver.  According to the indictment, in November 2008, Vannest did possess marijuana with intent to deliver.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Jackson County Sheriff Department Deputy R.H. Mellinger. 

•  Robert O. West, Jr., was indicted on one felony count of grand larceny, two felony counts of conspiracy to commit a felony, one felony count of brining stolen property into the state, one misdemeanor count of leaving the scene of an accident, and one misdemeanor count of conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor.  According to the indictment, in April 2009, West conspired with Jonathan D. Isom, II, to bring a stolen vehicle into the state, steal a 1997 Dodge Caravan from Amanda Burgess and fail to stop and remain at the scene of an accident.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Trooper First Class D.R. Herdman of the West Virginia State Police. 

•   Jason R. Swindler was indicted on one felony count of possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) with intent to deliver, one felony count of conspiracy to commit a felony, one misdemeanor count of fleeing on foot, one misdemeanor count of fleeing in a vehicle and one felony count of 3rd offense driving while license revoked for DUI.  According to the indictment, in March 2009 Swindler conspired with Pamela L. Redman and Jacob A. Hunter to possess marijuana with intent to deliver and fled on foot and in a vehicle from police while his license had been revoked for DUI.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy R.D. Rhodes. 

•  Jason R. Swindler was indicted on two felony counts of breaking and entering other than a dwelling, two misdemeanor counts of petit larceny, three misdemeanor counts of destruction of property, one felony count of attempt to commit a felony, and one felony account of 3rd offense driving while license revoked for DUI.  According to the indictment, in May 2009 Swindler broke into BBU Services of West Virginia causing damage to the building and stole items valued at less than $1,000 and also broke into a building belonging to Darrell F. Casto causing damage to steal items valued less than $1,000 and attempted to steal a Chevrolet Blazer belonging to John Little, causing damage to it as well.   The indictment claims he conspired with Joseph A. Comer and Joshua L. Stewart to commit the breaking and entering crimes as well as drove a vehicle while his license had been revoked.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy R.D. Rhodes. 

•  Shawn M. Richards was indicted on one felony count of failure to provide notice of registration changes.  According to the indictment, in February 2009 Richards failed to notify the West Virginia State Police of a change of his employment status within 10 days in violation of provisions of the West Virginia Sex Offender Registration Act.  Richards was convicted in January 1998 in Wirt County on one felony count of sexual abuse in the first degree.  The indictment was based upon the testimony of Senior Trooper D.H. Herdman of the West Virginia State Police.