Drug charges dominate indictments

A grand jury sitting in Randolph County handed up 26 indictments Tuesday after two days of deliberation. Among those indicted on felony drug charges were a Valley Bend couple accused of bringing heroin from Ohio and Maryland to distribute in Randolph County.

Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Richard T. Busch made the presentments to Randolph County Circuit Judge Jaymie Godwin Wilfong.

Brandon Shane Armstrong, 22, and Emily Bennett, 18, both of P.O. Box 114, Valley Bend, were named in a 10-count indictment. Armstrong is accused of six felonies including two counts each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and transportation of controlled substances into the state, along with one count each of delivery of a controlled substance and conspiracy. He is also accused of one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance.

Bennett is charged with four felonies including two counts of transportation of a controlled substance into the state and one count each of delivery of a controlled substance and conspiracy.

According to the indictment, Armstrong and Bennett are accused of transporting heroin from Ohio to West Virginia from January through October 2008 and from Maryland to West Virginia from October through November 2008. Armstrong is accused of possessing 85 clear capsules containing heroin, four rocks of heroin and an unspecified amount of marijuana. Both are also accused of delivering heroin in November 2008.

Jenny L. Louk, 41, of P.O. Box 129, Mill Creek, is charged with one felony count of delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school and one misdemeanor count of knowingly keeping and maintaining a dwelling or building for the purpose of using or selling controlled substances. According to the indictment, Louk is accused of distributing Oxycodone within 1,000 feet of Homestead Elementary School on Oct. 2, 2007.

Cheryl L. Powell, 50, of 230 Crystal Springs MHP, and Rosie N. Gibson, 70, of 110 Crystal Springs MHP, were named in a six-count indictment. Powell is charged with three counts of delivery of a controlled substance, and one count of conspiracy, all felonies, along with one misdemeanor count of keeping a dwelling for the purpose of using or selling controlled substances.

Gibson is charged with one count each of delivery of a controlled substance and conspiracy, both felonies

According to the indictment, Powell is accused of distributing morphine on Dec. 20, 2007, and Jan. 12, 2008, along with Fentanyl on Jan. 11, 2008.

Gibson is accused of distributing Fentanyl on Jan. 8, 2008.

Patricia L. Reed, 69, of P.O. Box 232, Huttonsville, and Reginald C. Reed, 51, of P.O. Box 628, Mill Creek, are named in a seven-count indictment accusing them of selling morphine on multiple occasions. Patricia L. Reed is accused of four counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy, all felonies, along with one misdemeanor count of knowingly keeping and maintaining a dwelling or building for the purpose of using or selling controlled substances. Reginald Reed is accused of one count each of delivery of a controlled substance and conspiracy, both felonies.

April D. Ward, 35, of HC 61, Box 37, Coalton, and Shawn P. Edwards Jr., 19, of HC 61, Box 37, Coalton, were named in a nine-count indictment. Edwards is charged with two counts of conspiracy, one count each of delivery of a controlled substance and burglary, all felonies, along with misdemeanor counts of petit larceny and fraudulent schemes. Ward is accused of two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy, all felonies. Both are also charged with one count of knowingly keeping and maintaining a dwelling or building for the purpose of using or selling controlled substances, a misdemeanor.

According to the indictment, Ward is accused of distributing marijuana and hydrocodone and Edwards is accused of distributing marijuana. Edwards is also accused of entering the home of Bill and Brenda Brown on Oct. 8, 2008, and taking two Apple I-Pod Shuffles. He is also accused of selling the couple six VICA raffle tickets that had expired.

Gennis J. Shoulders, 69, and Anna Shoulders, 68, both of 626 Yokum St., Elkins, are named in a 14-count indictment. Gennis Shoulders is charged with seven counts of delivery of a controlled substance, two counts of delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school and two counts of conspiracy, all felonies. Anna Shoulders is charged with two counts each of delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school and conspiracy, all felonies. Both are also charged with one count of knowingly keeping and maintaining a dwelling or building for the purpose of using or selling controlled substances, a misdemeanor.

According to the indictment, the duo allegedly sold morphine on multiple occasions in February 2008, including three times within 1,000 feet of Elkins Middle School.

Jeffrey T. Galford, 43, of 1026 S. Henry Ave., Elkins, is charged with one count of delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, a felony. According to the indictment, Galford is accused of selling morphine within 1,000 feet of the Elkins High School athletic complex on Feb. 28, 2008.

Lita A. Smallwood, 23, of 795 W Main St., apartment J, Bridgeport, and Leslie Pennington, 22, of Route 1, Box 124, Montrose, are named in a 37-count indictment. Smallwood is charged with 17 counts of forgery, 13 counts of uttering, and one count of conspiracy, all felonies. She is also charged with two misdemeanor counts of petit larceny. Pennington is accused of four counts of uttering and one count of conspiracy, all felonies.

According to the indictment, Smallwood is accused of taking two books of checks belonging to Ora Shepard in April 2008 and one book of checks belonging to Joni R. McDaniels in June 2008. Smallwood is also accused of forging the women's names on the checks totaling $971.68, in which she and Pennington both passed at various businesses in Elkins.

Jeffrey D. Ford, 36, of HC 61, Box 61, Coalton, is charged with one count of malicious assault, a felony. According to the indictment, Ford is accused of causing injury to Albert Ragazinsky on May 8, 2008.

William J. Browning, 44, of 1611 Lavalette Ave., Elkins, is charged with one count of malicious assault, a felony. According to the indictment, Browning is accused of stabbing Bradley D. Shifflett with a "lethal cutting instrument" on Sept. 19, 2008.

Richard R. Barb, 37, and Felinda A. Barb, 33, both of 414 Sixth St., Glenmore, are charged with one count each of first-degree arson and conspiracy, both felonies. According to the indictment, the Barbs are accused of setting fire to their 1974 mobile home in Mill Creek on July 2, 2007.

Christopher D. Hansen, 51, of Route 1, Box 84H, Montrose, is charged with one count each of burglary and malicious assault, both felonies. According to the indictment, Hansen is accused of striking "John Snider, an 80-year-old man, repeatedly in the face with a closed fist and by other means causing him bodily harm."

Justin P. Short, 26, of P.O. Box 382, Mill Creek, is charged with three counts of failure to register or provide notice of registration changes as required as a sex offender, all felonies.

Brian J. Ward, 31, of P.O. Box 304, Beverly, is charged with one count of burglary, a felony, and one count of destruction of property, a misdemeanor. According to the indictment, Ward is accused of breaking into the home of Edna Crawford and damaging the door, belonging to Seneca Realty.

Barbara A. Reel, 33, of Route 1, Box 188C, Beverly, is charged with one count of failure to register or provide notice of registration changes as required as a convicted sex offender, a felony.

Jeffrey R. Webb, 43, of Route 1, Box 75E, Valley Bend, is charged with two felony counts of entering without breaking and two misdemeanor counts of petit larceny. According to the indictment, Webb is accused of taking $200 on Oct. 8, 2008, and $54 on Oct. 29, 2008, belonging to Rodney Tallman.

William Painter, James Heater and Willie Trembly, all incarcerated at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail, are indicted on one count each of destruction of building by rioters and conspiracy, both felonies. According to the indictment, the trio are accused of engaging in a riot at the jail on July 13, 2008, and destroying light fixtures, sprinkler fixtures and furniture.

Special Prosecutor Kurt Hall handled the state's cases against Painter, Heater and Trembly.

Bond return is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 11.