6 Indicted by Martin County Grand Jury in March session

By Roberta Cantrell
BSN Editor

The Martin County Grand Jury indicted six people during their March session sending their cases for further review.

•Joseph Jude, 44, of Lovely, was indicted on charges of 3rd degree fleeing/evading and resisting arrest when May 3, he unlawfully committed the offense of disregarding commands by MC Deputy J.C. Kirk to stop and also attempted to prevent the deputy from arresting him by either threatening to or using force against him.

•Kassandra Hamilton, 33, of Louisa, was charged with 1st degree criminal mischief (tampering with key infrastructure assets), trespass on key infrastructure assets. The indictment states that on Sept. 23, 2025, Hamilton committed the offense of unlawfully destroying, damaging or defacing property owned by Optimum located at Emily Creek Road in Martin County with financial damage approximately $9,656.47 and remained on property maintained by AT&T.

•Krystal Leann Cooper, 35, of Warfield, was charged with 3rd degree assault (police/probation officer), 3rd degree escape, 2nd degree disorderly conduct when on June 11, she is accused of assaulting or attempting to assault MC Deputy Steven Putman, escaping from the MCSO and engaging in violent/threatening behavior in a public place.

•Brian Howell, 46, of Inez, was charged with 1st degree possession of a controlled substance when on Oct. 23, 2025, he is accused of being in possession of methamphetamine with a prior conviction.

•Eric Crum, 42, of Inez, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, 1st degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance 2nd degree and possession/use of drug paraphernalia when on Nov. 11, 2025, he is accused of being in possession of a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun after being previously convicted of (2) prior felonies, he was found to also be in possession of methamphetamine, suboxone, and a syringe.

•Marlo Vance, 30, of Dingess, WV., was charged with 1st degree bail jumping when on Feb. 5, he unlawfully failed to appear in Martin Circuit Court at the specified time for a pre-trial conference after being released on bail.

(Editor’s note: An indictment is not an indication of guilt but a determination by a grand jury that criminal charges warrant further judicial review.)