Two Women Charged on Aggravated Drug Charges by Grand Jury; Twelve other cases were bumped up for further review

By Roberta Cantrell
BSN Editor

Two Louisa women from North Lackey Avenue were formally charged by the Lawrence County grand jury Thursday, April 9.

According to the police report, Rita Faye Napier, 66, and Ambre Gilpin, 35 were taken into custody Dec. 12, 2025, after a search of their home by Louisa Police officers yielded more than 249.9 grams of heroin and .922 grams of fentanyl, 3.231 grams of methamphetamine, 21.664 grams of cocaine 11 dosage units of hydrocodone, along with several sets of digital scales and multiple plastic bags.

Both are charged with Aggravated Trafficking in a Controlled Substance 1st degree complicity (Heroin), Aggravated Trafficking in a Controlled Substance complicity (Carfentanil/Fentanyl Derivatives), Aggravated Trafficking in a Controlled Substance complicity (methamphetamine), Aggravated Trafficking in a Controlled Substance complicity (more than 4 grams of cocaine), Aggravated Trafficking in a Controlled Substance complicity (hydrocodone), and Drug Paraphernalia (buy/possess).

Also indicted during the jury’s April session were:

•Melissa Perry, 56, of Dunlow, WV, charged with 3rd degree burglary when on March 3, she is accused of unlawfully entering and remaining in Walmart of Louisa after having been banned from the premises Aug. 27, 2024, with the intent to commit a crime therein.

•Cassandra Robertson, 56, of Louisa, was charged with possession of a controlled substance 1st degree, use/possession of drug paraphernalia, public intoxication when on Feb. 26, she is accused of being in possession of methamphetamine, multiple glass pipes and manifestly under the influence in public.

•Jeremy Lyons, 38, of Adams, was charged with possession of a controlled substance 1st degree, possession of a controlled substance 2nd degree and disregarding a stop sign when on Feb. 17, he is accused of unlawfully being in possession of methamphetamine, 10 and a half dosage units of buprenorphine (suboxone) and failing to yield at a posted stop sign.

•Heather Mollett, 35, of Inez, was charged with possession of a controlled substance 1st degree, use/possession of drug paraphernalia, disregarding traffic control device, no registration plate, failure to wear seatbelt, no registration receipt, rear license not illuminated and license to be in possession when on Feb. 4, she is accused of being in possession of methamphetamine with (2) prior convictions in Martin and Lawrence Circuit courts. She was also in possession of a syringe and grinder along with the added traffic violations.

•Amber Mitchell, 39, of Louisa, was charged with theft by deception over $1,000 when she is accused of depriving Food City of Louisa a total of $1,235.04 during a time span of Jan. 11 until March 1. According to the indictment, Mitchell wrote checks under the names of Amber Franks and Christian Green knowing the checks would not be honored by the drawee.

•Lois Richardson, 32, of Fort Gay, WV, was charged with possession of a controlled substance 1st degree, tampering with physical evidence, possession of a controlled substance 3rd degree, use/possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and prescription of controlled substance not in proper container.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Jan. 12, when Richardson was accused of unlawfully committing the offense of being in possession of fentanyl, removing, altering, destroying or concealing physical evidence she believed would be used against her in an official proceeding, unlawfully being in possession of alprazolam and not in its proper container, plastic baggies, marijuana and a marijuana grinder.

•Hunter Nauman, 24, of Flat Gap, was charged with possession of a controlled substance 1st degree, use/possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, rear license not illuminated, reckless driving following another vehicle too closely when on Dec. 10, 2025, he is accused of unlawfully being in possession of methamphetamine, multiple glass pipes and marijuana while driving under the influence along with several other traffic violations.

•Jimmy Castle, 48, of Paintsville, was charged with assault in the 2nd degree when on May 2, 2025, he is accused of unlawfully committing the offense of intentionally causing physical injury to another by means of a deadly weapon namely Robert Parker.

•Gary R. Preston, 81, of Ashland, was charged with 1st degree incest when during the time span of July 1 through July 10, 2010, he is accused of unlawfully engaging in deviate sexual intercourse with his granddaughter a minor less than the age of 18.

•Brandon Fasnacht, 38, of Louisa, was charged with possession of a controlled substance 1st degree, use/possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana when on Feb. 27, he is accused of being in possession of methamphetamine, multiple glass pipes scales and marijuana.

•Ricky L. New, 57, of Columbus, Ohio, was charged with theft of identity of another without consent, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, giving officer false name, operating motor vehicle on suspended/revoked license, no operator’s license, license to be in possession, failure to dim headlights, escape in the 3rd degree all stemming from an incident on July 4, 2025.

•Karla Welch, 40, of Fort Gay, WV, was charged with (2) counts of 3rd degree burglary when on Feb. 8, she is accused of unlawfully entered and remained in Louisa Walmart after being banned Jan. 20, 2020, with the intent to commit a crime therein. Welch again, returned to Louisa Walmart on Feb. 28, making it a second charge of burglary.

(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.)