Martin County Issues 19 Indictments
INEZ — The Martin County Grand Jury issued 19 indictments on Aug. 1, several of which were for bail jumping charges.
•Cody Spears, 28, of Lovely, is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of marijuana.
On or about May 22, Spears was allegedly in possession of a JP Enterprise Inc. brand 12-gauge shotgun and magazine after having been convicted of a felony and he was in possession of approximately 10.30 grams of marijuana.
•Jason Mollett, 43, of Tomahawk, is charged with first-degree criminal mischief and first-degree persistent felony offender.
On or before May 5, Mollett allegedly damaged or destroyed, damaged or defaced property or tampered with the operation of a key infrastructure asset, namely five strands of telephone/fiber optic cable, a total of 149’ 9 ft., owned by AT&T telephone company with a value of the cable exceeding $1,000 and he is a previously convicted felon.
•Michael Baisden, 60, of Beauty, is charged with first-degree wanton endangerment and third-degree terroristic threatening.
On or about May 31, Baisden allegedly engaged in conduct which created a substantial danger to another, namely James Gilman of Beauty and Baisden threatened to commit a crime likely to result in the to commit a crime likely to result in the death or serious physical injury to another person.
•Eric Bowens, 46, of Tomahawk, is charged with third-degree assault (EMS, Fire); operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs; second-degree fleeing or evading police on foot; resisting arrest and possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle.
On or about June 20, Bowens allegedly attempted to cause physical injury or intentionally caused Emergency Management personnel, namely Thomas Flanery, while he was acting in his official capacity; he operated a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which impaired his ability to operate the vehicle; he disobeyed a command to stop by Martin County Sheriff’s Deputy Justin Bellamy, who had a reasonable suspicion that Bowens had committed a crime; he attempted to prevent Bellamy from effecting an arrest by using or threatening to use physical force against the officers and he had an open alcoholic beverage container, namely an open bottle of Ever Clear in the motor vehicle he was operating upon a Kentucky Roadway.
•Jeffrey Looney, 31, of Louisa, is charged with first-degree fleeing or evading police on foot; third-degree escape; resisting arrest; third-degree terroristic threatening and alcohol intoxication in a public place.
On or before June 25, Looney allegedly disregarded commands to stop given by Martin County Sheriff’s Deputies while they were acting in their official capacity; he escaped from the custody of Martin County Sheriff’s Deputy Justin Bellamy after being placed under arrest; he attempted to prevent deputies from effecting an arrest by threatening to use physical force against the officers; he threatened to commit a crime likely to result in death or serious injury to Martin County Sheriff’s Deputy Bellamy and he was manifestly under the influence of alcohol to a degree that he might injure himself or other persons or property or unreasonably annoy persons in his vicinity.
•Robert Drenning, 48, of Beauty, is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; first-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession/use drug paraphernalia.
On or about May 11, Drenning was allegedly in possession of a Winchester brand 12-gauge shotgun and magazine after having been previously convicted of a felony; he was in possession of methamphetamine and two syringes.
•William Preece, 58, of Inez, is charged with trafficking in marijuana; first-degree wanton endangerment; operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs; possession/use drug paraphernalia; reckless driving and third-degree terroristic threatening.
On or about May 10, Preece allegedly trafficked in approximately 9.409 ounces (266.732 grams) of marijuana with $1,006 in cash money, with the intent to traffic the marijuana; he engaged in conduct with created a substantial danger to Scottie Thompson; he operated a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and or drugs which impaired his ability to operate said motor vehicle; he was in possession of a grinder and a plate containing chemical residue and an altered tube containing chemical residue; he operated a motor vehicle in a reckless manner without regard for the safety and convenience of pedestrians or other vehicles upon the roadway and he threatened to commit a crime likely to result in the death or serious physical injury to another person.
•Kenis Casey Bishop, 44, of Beauty, is charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance; possession/use of drug paraphernalia and tempering with physical evidence.
On or before June 8, Bishop was allegedly in possession of methamphetamine, a narcotics pipe with burn residue used to ingest controlled substances and he concealed physical evidence that he believed would be used against him in an official proceeding.
•Martin Gillespie, 50, of Lovely, is charged with first-degree bail jumping.
On or before May 2, Gillespie, allegedly after having been released from custody by the court upon the condition that he would appear at a specified time and place in connection with a Johnson County felony charge 24-CR-00018 and he failed to appear at a pre-trial conference.
•Jonathan Mollett, 36, of Louisa, is charged in three indictments for first-degree bail jumping.
On or before July 18, Mollett, allegedly after having been released from custody by the court upon the condition that he would appear at a specified time and place in connection with a Johnson County felony charge, 24-CR-00004, for a final report hearing; 23-CR-00086, for a final report hearing and 23-CR-00094, for a final report hearing.
•Brenton Johnson, 31, of Inez, is charged with first-degree bail jumping.
On or before May 2, Johnson, after having been released from custody by the court upon the condition that he would appear at a specified time and place in connection with a Johnson County case, 24-CR-00002 and he failed to appear at the pre-trial conference.
•Paul Brewer, 40, of Kermit, W.Va., is charged in two indictments with first-degree bail jumping. On or before June 6, Brewer allegedly after having been released from custody by the court upon the condition that he would appear at a specified time and place in connection with a Johnson County felony charge, 24-CR-00026 and 20-CR-00060, he failed to show for sentencing hearings.
•Joseph C. Jude, 43, of Lovely, is charged in two indictments for first-degree bail jumping.
On or before March 7, Jude, after having been released from custody by the court upon the condition that he would appear at a specified time and place in connection with a Johnson County felony charge 24-CR-00011 and 24-CR-00012, and he failed to appear for the change of plea hearing.
•Brianna Ellis, 20, of Tomahawk, is charged in two indictments with first-degree bail jumping.
On or before Feb. 15, Ellis, allegedly after having been released from custody by the court upon the condition that she would appear at a specified time and place in connection with a Johnson County felony charge, 23-CR-00060 and 23-CR-00057, and she failed to appear for the pre-trial conference hearings.
(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.)