Nine indictments returned by Johnson County Grand Jury

By TONY FYFFE

BSN Editor

PAINTSVILLE – Nine indictments were returned last Wednesday, April 20, by the Johnson County Grand Jury.

Named in the true bills were:

Joshua Wallen, 41, and Brandon Hensley, 31, both of Paintsville, charged with receiving stolen property over $10,000/complicity for allegedly, acting alone or in complicity with each other, possessing from June 6, 2021, through Oct. 12, 2021, $12,267.60 worth of tires stolen from Ben Tire (Joseph Ward) Company of Hager Hill.

Wallen is additionally charged in a separate indictment with theft by deception over $1,000 but under $10,000 for allegedly obtaining property, services or monies of Barbara Estep by creating or preventing her from acquiring information that would affect judgment of a transaction, with a total loss of $3,022.72, from Dec. 5, 2021, through Dec. 13, 2021.

Hensley is additionally charged in a separate indictment with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), third-degree possession of a controlled substance, first-offense operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and prescription of a controlled substance not in a proper container for allegedly possessing methamphetamine, gabapentin, digital scales, marijuana and a controlled substance not in the properly administered container; and being in physical control of alcohol or other substances that impair his ability to operate the vehicle on March 18.

Dawn Ferguson, 46, of Wittensville, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) for allegedly possessing methamphetamine on Jan. 31.

James Sherman, 53, of Thelma, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl) and first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) for allegedly possessing the two drugs on Oct. 8, 2021.

Daren P. Estep, 42, of Keaton, charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, more than 2 grams of methamphetamine, and improper display of registration plates for allegedly possessing approximately 5.992 grams of methamphetamine housed in three separate plastic baggies, with the intent to traffic in or by trafficking in the drug and for operating a motor vehicle on Rt. 201 without proper legible registration plates on Feb. 24.

Jayden P. Brooks, 20, of Paintsville, charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), speeding 19 miles over the limit, no tail lamps and no registration plates for allegedly possessing methamphetamine, operating a motor vehicle at a speed of 74 miles per hour in a 55-miles-per-hour speed zone, and operating the vehicle without properly working tail lights and without proper registration plates on March 21.

Michael Eugene Hollan, 43, of West Van Lear, charged with tampering with physical evidence, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, third-degree possession of a controlled substance, second-degree fleeing or evading police (motor vehicle) and reckless driving for allegedly destroying, removing, altering or concealing physical evidence that he believed would be used against him in an official proceeding; possessing methamphetamine and gabapentin; disobeying a command to stop by Deputy Jeff Castle with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office; and operating his motor vehicle in a reckless manner on Jan. 25.

(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.)