Former Kentucky Convict Arrested in W.Va. for Murder

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

DUNLOW, W.VA. —A man who was convicted of second-degree manslaughter in Kentucky in 1999 was arrested last week Dec. 5, in Wayne County W.Va.

Chester Ray Mollett, 64, of Dunlow, is charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

West Virginia State Police are conducting a death investigation. The shooting happened in the Dunlow community of Wayne County, W.Va. along Blue Moon Hollow Road in the early morning hours on Dec. 5. Investigators found Jason Perry and his dog, dead from what appeared to be a gunshot wound.

Mollett allegedly shot Perry’s dog, according to a criminal complaint filed in Wayne County Magistrate Court and Perry went to check on his dog, Mollett allegedly shot him, the complaint said.

Mollett is being held at the Western Regional Jail, without bond.

In 1999, in Martin County, Mollett was originally charged with first-degree manslaughter, but according to the Martin County Circuit Clerk’s Office, the charges were amended to second-degree manslaughter and he was sentenced to serve seven months.

Mollett was transferred Dec. 7, 1999, from the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center, to La Grange to serve the remainder of his sentence.

“He served a total of 88 days, both at the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center and La Grange,” a representative of the circuit clerk’s office said.

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