Martin County man indicted on manslaughter charge
By Lilly Adkins
BSN Associate Editor
INEZ —The Martin County Grand Jury returned 25 indictments Thursday, including one for manslaughter involving drugs.
Christopher Newsome, 28, of Debord, is charged with second-degree manslaughter, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, fentanyl and second-degree persistent felony offender.
According to the indictment, on or before July 30, 2020, Newsome allegedly caused the death of Ryan Scott Marcum by providing him with fentanyl, causing his death.
He also possessed fentanyl and is a previously convicted felon, the indictment says.
Others named in true bills include:
• Casey Spence, 22, of Tomahawk, charged with receiving stolen property; second-degree persistent felony offender; second-degree fleeing or evading and operating on a suspended license for allegedly
According to the indictment, on or before Aug. 18, 2020, Spence, acting alone or in complicity with Kara Stamper, possessed a 1988 Ford pickup stolen from Jeffrey Bevins of Louisa, with value of $750; is a previously convicted felon; disregarded signals and commands to stop given by Martin County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Evans in an attempt to flee from arrest and operated a motor vehicle on the roadway while his license was suspended or revoked.
• Donald K. Harris, 40, of Ulysses, charged with flagrant non-support for allegedly failing to pay more than $29,041.19 in child support from March 1, 2006, through Oct. 31, 2020.
• Ronald Chadwick Crum, 42, of Tomahawk, charged with flagrant non-support for allegedly failing to pay more than $81,603.20 in child support from Sept. 4, 2003, through Oct. 31, 2020.
• Melvin Fletcher, 58, of Inez, charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, less than 10 dosage units; second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, less than 20 dosage units; and second-degree persistent felony offender for allegedly possessing oxycodone and gabapentin with the intent to traffic on Gabapentin on Sept. 21, 2020, and for being a previously convicted felon.
• Samuel Horn, 47, of Louisa, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance and operating on a suspended operator’s license for allegedly possessing methamphetamine and operating a motor vehicle upon a roadway wile his license had been suspended or revoked on Oct. 8, 2020.
• Tommie Spears, 58, of Lovely, is charged in two separate indictments.
In the first indictment, Spears is charged with third-degree trafficking greater than 20 dosage units, firearm enhancement; trafficking in marijuana, 8 ounces to 5 pounds, firearm enhancement; and possession of drug paraphernalia/complicity for allegedly possessing 191 dosage units of Xanax with the intent to traffic and while possessing of 41 firearms; possessing 244.1 grams of marijuana with the intent to traffic while possessing 41 firearms; and possessing a loaded syringe on Dec. 3, 2020.
In the second indictment, Spears is charged with two counts of receiving stolen firearms and possession of a defaced firearm for allegedly possessing on the same day a 7.62-caliber SKS assault rifle, a Remington Brand model 582 rifle/shotgun, both reported as stolen and registered as stolen on NCIC, and a handgun with the serial number removed.
• Cody Spears, 25, Ruby Chaffins, 45, and Laura Giacomoni, 37, all of Lovely, charged with third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, greater than 20 dosage units-firearm enhancement/complicity; trafficking in marijuana 8 oz to 5 lbs.-firearm enhancement/complicity and possession of drug paraphernalia/complicity.
According to the indictment on or about Dec. 3, 2020, Spears, Chaffins and Giacomoni, acting alone or in complicity with each other, allegedly possessed 191 dosage units of Xanax with the intent to traffic while while possessing 41 firearms; possessed approximately 244.1 grams of marijuana while possessing 41 firearms; and possessed a loaded syringe.
• Nathanial Maynard, 27, of Lovely, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, for allegedly possessing the drug on Dec. 3, 2020.
• James Bailey, 46, of Louisville, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence for allegedly
possessing methamphetamine and destroying, removing, altering or concealing physical evidence that he believed would be used against him in an official proceeding on Dec. 3, 2020.
• Gary Hayes, 52, of Kermit, W.Va., charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana for allegedly possessing methamphetamine, an altered straw and an altered pipe, and marijuana on Dec. 3, 2020.
• Aaron Jude, 25, of Lovely, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing methamphetamine and five syringes on Dec. 3, 2020.
• Robert Drenning, 44, of Lovely; Ryan Stumbo, 29, of Dunlow, W.Va., and Timothy Stacy, 49, no address listed, charged with first-degree trafficking in greater than two grams of methamphetamine/complicity for allegedly, acting alone or in complicity with each other, possessing 9.93 grams of methamphetamine and digital scales with the intent of trafficking in the methamphetamine on Dec. 3, 2020.
• Angela Slone, 45, of Inez, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and second-degree disorderly conduct for allegedly possessing methamphetamine and a syringe, and engaging in violent or threatening behavior in a public place with the intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance and or alarm on Sept. 24, 2020.
• John Jones, 35, of Matewan, W.Va., charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, third-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession/use of drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing methamphetamine, neurontin and a glass case used to store drugs and a glass pipe on Nov. 19, 2020.
• Christopher Chaffins, 28, of Beauty, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on Oct. 5, 2020.
• Edgar Maynard, 27, of Inez, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on Sept. 7, 2020.
• William D. Patrick, 30, of Warfield, charged with driving on a DUI-suspended license, third offense or greater within 10 years; careless driving; no or expired registration plates; and no or expired registration receipt.
According to the indictment, on or before Oct. 21, 2020, Patrick was allegedly in physical control of a motor vehicle while his operator’s license was suspended with three prior convictions within 10 years; operated a motor vehicle upon the roadway in a careless manner toward other motor vehicles upon that roadway and with no or expired registration receipt.
• Dwayne E. Crum Jr., 28, of Inez, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession/use of drug paraphernalia for allegedly possessing methamphetamine and two syringes on Sept. 16, 2020.
• Boone Fletcher Jr., 48, of Inez, charged with trafficking in marijuana, less than 8 ounces for allegedly possessing 23 grams of marijuana hash, four marijuana cigarettes, numerous types of seeds and $1,291.87 in cash money, with the intent to traffic in the 23 grams of marijuana on Oct. 27, 2020.
(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.)