Johnson County Grand Jury Indicts Eight

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

PAINTSVILLE — The Johnson County Grand Jury issued eight true bills May 19.

•Jessica Spradlin, 35, of Offutt, and Tiffany Prater, 34, of Nippa, are both, charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

Spradlin is additionally charged as a first-degree persistent felony offender and with possession of marijuana.

On or before March 1, Spradlin and Prater alone or in complicity with each other were allegedly in possession of approximately 13.5 grams of methamphetamine and an additional 3.75 grams of methamphetamine beside her person, digital scales and multiple plastic baggies with the intent to traffic methamphetamine.

•Ryan S. Kimbler, 35, of Sitka, is charged with flagrant non-support.

From on or before Sept. 1, 2019 through March 31, Kimbler allegedly failed to pay court ordered child support to Christa M. Hunter with a total amount of arrears exceeding $8,378.84.

•Zachariah J. Donta, 35, of West Liberty, is charged with flagrant non-support.

From on or before Sept. 1, 2018 through April 30, Donta allegedly failed to pay court ordered child support to Ashley J. Blanton, with a total amount of arrears exceeding $9,477.55.

•Marvin P. Martin, 39, of Flora, MS. is charged with flagrant non-support.

From on or before Jan. 1, 2008, through Feb. 28, Martin allegedly failed to pay court ordered child support to Jeannie M. Franklin with a total amount of arrears exceeding $12,934.12.

•Clement Eldridge, 45, of Keaton, is charged with flagrant non-support.

From on or before Nov. 1, 2010 through March 31, Eldridge allegedly failed to pay court ordered child support to Jeanna Hill, with a total amount of arrears exceeding $12,708.83.

•Jonathan Morrow, 44, of Nippa, is charged with first-degree wanton endangerment; first-degree fleeing or evading police and endangering the welfare of a minor.

On or about May 25, 2016, Morrow allegedly engaged in conduct which creates substantial danger of serious physical injury or death to another, namely Johnson County Sheriff’s Deputy Danny Martin, while he was acting in his official capacity; he operated a motor vehicle with the attempt to elude or flee and he being a parent, guardian or person legally charged with the care or custody of a minor failed or refused to exercise diligence in the control of such child to prevent that child from becoming a neglected, dependent, or delinquent child.

•Ronald Lee Ward, 43, of Louisa, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance and prescription of a controlled substance not in the proper container.

On or before May 3, Ward was allegedly in possession of methamphetamine and Gabapentin that wasn’t in the proper container as dispensed.

(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.)