Trafficking, Assault, Theft and Gun Charges Among Cases Bumped to JC Grand Jury

By Roberta Cantrell
BSN Editor

In their April session the Johnson County Grand Jury decided eleven cases, due to the extent of the crimes committed, will need further judicial review.

Among those cases are:

•Devin Wells, 19, of Paintsville, who was charged with assault 3rd degree (police officer) class D felony, fleeing/evading 3rd degree (on foot), disorderly conduct 2nd degree, resisting arrest, menacing and alcohol intoxication in a public place. The indictment states that on Feb. 15, Wells unlawfully committed the offense of causing physical injury or attempting to cause physical injury to Paintsville Police Officer Justin Jackson, disregarding commands to stop by the officer and unlawfully attempting to prevent the officer from effecting an arrest by using physical force or threatening physical force.

•Jonathan Fitch, 39, of Staffordsville, was charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument 2nd degree, theft by failure to make required disposition of property over $1,000 when on Feb. 6, Fitch is accused of unlawfully being in possession of a forged instrument (warranty documentation) with the intent to defraud, deceive or injure Paul and Amanda Baker.

Fitch is also accused of unlawfully obtaining $600 upon agreement to a known legal obligation to make a specified payment or disposition of property to Paul and Amanda Baker treating $4,406.77 of the Baker’s money as his own and failing to make payment of monies or property.

•James Blevins. 33, of Paintsville, is charged with theft by unlawful taking (shoplifting) over $1,000 when on March 15, he is accused of  taking (2) circular saws, a Bluetooth charger, a Bluetooth radio, (2) mechanic sets, a rotary tool kit, a power bank, a cordless oscillating tool kit, a torch kit, a creator tool, a 12 volt battery, a Bluetooth speaker, (3) sets of wireless earbuds and (2) Gatorade drinks from Lowe’s in Paintsville with a total loss of merchandise $2,558.26.

•Joshua Fitzpatrick, 47, of Paintsville, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (complicity) when on March 26, he is accused acting alone or in complicity with Suzanne Sewell of committing the offense of being in possession of methamphetamine.

•Suzanne Sewell, 51, of Paintsville, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (complicity) when on March 26, she is accused acting alone or in complicity with Joshua Fitzpatrick of committing the offense of being in possession of methamphetamine.

•Scottie Risner, 35, of Paintsville, was charged with possession of a controlled substance 1st degree when on Jan. 10, he is accused of being in possession of methamphetamine.

•Phillip Cody Parsons, 30, of Staffordsville, was charged with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon (2) counts, possession of a controlled substance 1st degree when on Jan. 28, he is accused of unlawfully being in possession of a Ruger brand .357 caliber handgun and a SCCY Industries brand .9mm caliber handgun after previously being convicted of a felon in JC Circuit Court. Parsons is also accused of being in possession of methamphetamine.

•David Allen Bowling, 39, of Columbus, OH., was charged with 1st degree assault and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs 1st offense within 10 years (aggravating circumstances) when on Feb. 14, he is accused of unlawfully committing the offense of intentionally with the extreme indifference to human life caused serious injury to another person by means of a dangerous instrument namely Zoey McClellan of Thelma. Bowling is accused of being impaired when he caused an accident that caused serious physical injury to another. The indictment states Bowling’s blood or breath test/tests results were .15 within 2 hours of operation of the vehicle.

•Clinton Castle, 44, of Paintsville, was charged with trafficking in a controlled substance 1st degree when on May 10, 2024, he is accused of being in possession of 7.81 grams of methamphetamine with the intent of trafficking. Castle is also charged with 2nd degree persistent felony offender.

•Erik Tackett, 40, of Flat Gap, was charged with trafficking in the 1st degree when on Sept. 17, 2025, he is accused of unlawfully being in possession of 3.004 grams of methamphetamine with the intent of trafficking in the controlled substance.

•Michael Walters, 40, of Offutt, was charged with trafficking in the 1st degree when on Aug. 6, 2025, he is accused of unlawfully being in possession of 3.44 grams of methamphetamine with the intent of trafficking in the controlled substance

(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.)