New Defendants Plead Innocent To Charges
Twelve defendants, indicted by the May grand jury, entered pleas of innocence May 27 in Wetzel County Circuit Court before the Honorable Judge David W. Hummel.
These defendants will return to court July 15 for pretrial hearings. The state’s discovery is due by June 10, with defense’s response due by June 24. Trial dates were set for the weeks of July 28 and Aug. 11, if pleas are not entered prior to then.
A plea of innocence was entered on behalf of defendant Bryon Keith Pyles, 28, of Route 1 Box 91A, Proctor, who is represented by Attorney Kevin Neiswonger. A trial date of July 28 was set.
Pyles received a three-count indictment from the May 2014 grand jury charging him with nighttime burglary, grand larceny, and receiving stolen goods. Pyles’ indictment alleges that on or about Feb. 2, 2014, he entered into another person’s residence where he took away goods having a value of more than $1,000. Count three, receiving stolen goods, alleges that Pyles received goods valued at more than $1,000 belonging to the victim in the prior two charges.
Megan Brooke Ashcraft-Moore, 20, of Route 1 Box 5, Folsom, also represented by Neiswonger, has a trial date set for July 30. Moore received a two-count indictment charging her with manufacturing a controlled substance (marijuana) and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) with intent to deliver. These offenses allegedly occurred on or about May 3, 2013. Bond was set at $5,000 cash.
Jonathan Douglas Dotson, 27, of 28 Rose Street Lot 14-S, New Martinsville, is also represented by Attorney Neiswonger. Dotson received a three-count indictment, charging him with conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (marijuana), delivery of a controlled narcotic substance (Percocet), and conspiracy to deliver a controlled narcotic substance (Percocet). Count one, conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (marijuana) alleges that on or about Sept. 25, 2013, Dotson conspired with Diana S. Drennen to deliver marijuana. Count two alleges that Dotson delivered Percocet on or about Oct. 2, 2013, and count three alleges that on or about Oct. 4, 2013, Dotson conspired with Drennen to deliver Percocet. Dotson’s trial date was set for July 30.
The case involving John Otto Calhoun, 73, of 231 Montwell Drive, Mingo Junction, Ohio, is set to go to trial on July 30. Calhoun, represented by Attorney David C. White, received two separate indictments, charging him with sexual-related offenses. The first indictment, containing six indictments, charges Calhoun with two sets of sexual assault in the second degree, incest, and sexual abuse by a custodian. These offenses allegedly occurred between March 20, 1999, and March 14, 2000, to a child.
The separate indictment contains a charge of sexual assault in the first degree, incest, sexual abuse in the first degree, and two charges of sexual abuse by a custodian. These offenses allegedly occurred between Dec. 6, 2000, and Dec. 5, 2007, to a victim of the age of 11 years or less at the time of the alleged offenses.
A trial date of Aug. 14 was set for Julie Lynn Finch, Charles Ely Henderson, Diana S. Drennen, and Rebecca Darnae Smith, all who are represented by Jeremiah Gardner in their separate cases.
Julie Lynn Finch, 36, of 187 North State Route 2 Apt. E-106, New Martinsville, received one charge of third offense domestic battery. This charge alleges that on or about Aug. 6, 2013, Finch struck her boyfriend in the face and on the back with her hand at their residence. Finch was previously convicted of domestic battery in the Magistrate Court of Tyler County on or about Sept. 25, 2008. She was also convicted of domestic assault in Wetzel County Magistrate Court on or about April 14, 2010.
Charles Ely Henderson, 32, of Route 1 Box 4E, New Martinsville, received a charge of uttering. On or about June 6, 2013, Henderson allegedly cashed a $30 check at 7-Eleven in New Martinsville, when he knew the check was forged.
Rebecca Darnae Smith, 20, of 309 High Street, Mannington, W.Va., received a 12-count indictment charging her with four counts of forgery, one count of uttering, four counts of conspiracy to commit uttering, one count of conspiracy to commit forgery, one count of obtaining money by false pretenses and one count of fraudulent schemes.
Diana S. Drennen, 25, of 187 North State Route 2, Apt. C-202, New Martinsville, received a three-count indictment, charging her with delivery of a controlled substance (marijuana), conspiracy to deliver a controlled narcotic substance (Percocet) and delivery of a controlled narcotic substance (Percocet). Count one, delivery of a controlled narcotic substance (marijuana), charges that on or about Sept. 25, 2013, Drennen delivered marijuana in Wetzel County. Count two alleges that Drennen conspired with Jonathan Douglas Dotson, on or about October 2, 2013, to deliver Percocet; count three alleges that on or about October 4, 2013, Drennen delivered Percocet.
Lawrence Donald Barnette Jr., represented by Brent Clyburn, will appear in court for a trial on Aug. 13.
Barnette, 46, of the Northern Regional Jail, received a six-count indictment charging him with three counts of first-degree sexual assault and three counts of sexual abuse by a custodian. These offenses allegedly occurred between Jan. 1, 2000, and Feb. 13, 2002, when the victim was 11 years old or younger.
Jacob Ray Young, 18, of HC 60 Box 129AA, represented by Attorney Randy Gossett, will appear in count again Aug. 11 for trial. Young received a two-count indictment charging him with daytime burglary and grand larceny. This indictment alleges that on or about Jan. 10, 2014, Young entered the residence of another stole goods that valued more than $1,000.
Also, Mikeal Craft, represented by Attorney Philip Bowser, has a trial date set for Aug. 13. Craft, 25, of HC 61 Box 8, Littleton, received a two-count indictment charging him with daytime burglary and petit larceny. These charges allege that on Nov. 30, 2013, Craft unlawfully entered a residence near Wileyville where he took goods having a value of less than $1,000.
Nathan Koontz, 19, of HC 62 Box 50A, Burton, received a charge of nighttime burglary alleging that he broke into the residence of another on or about Sept. 24, 2013. Koontz, represented by Attorney David Zehnder, received a trial date of July 30. Bond was set at $20,000 personal recognizance and is due on May 30.