Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 10 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Grand jury indicts armed robber, pot growers
Published Tuesday, February 23, 2010
An Ironton man accused of molesting a young girl, a man who held up a South Point business with a shotgun and a couple recently arrested for an alleged pot growing operation were all indicted late last week by a Lawrence County Grand Jury.
Paul E. Barnes, 53, of 2810 S. Fifth St., Ironton, was indicted on two counts of felonious assault and one count each of gross sexual imposition, importuning and resisting arrest.
In November 2009, Barnes was arrested after he allegedly had sexual contact with the child.
When the parents of the girl confronted him, Barnes allegedly pulled a knife on them.
When police officers arrived, Barnes allegedly tried to stab them as well and then barricaded himself in his residence.
Barnes was arrested when he left his home and got into a struggle with police who used a Taser to bring him under control.
Also indicted:
• Walter Ballard, 21, of 477 County Road 119, Ironton, was indicted on one count of aggravated robbery and one count of kidnapping. Each of those charges carries a firearm specification because he allegedly used a gun to commit them.
On Jan. 11, a cashier at Clarks Pump ‘N’ Shop on County Road 450, next to the Grandview Inn, told sheriff’s deputies a man wearing a mask and gloves and carrying a .12 gauge shotgun walked into the store just before 4 a.m. and demanded money, cigarettes and the cashier’s identification.
The robber threatened to hurt the cashier’s family but dropped the gun when he ran out of the store. Ballard was arrested a short time later.
• Stephen C. Preston, 58, and his wife, Shannon Lynn Preston, 31, both of 595 County Road 15, South Point, were each indicted on charges of illegal manufacture of drugs or cultivation of marijuana, trafficking in marijuana, possession of marijuana and possession on criminal tools.
The Prestons were arrested earlier this month after authorities said they found a marijuana growing operation in their basement. The set up included a small irrigation system.
According to information from the office of Lawrence County Prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr., the grand jury examined 29 cases and returned indictments in all but two of them. Others indicted were:
• Kyle J. Hinkle, 19, 396 County Road 70, Lot 30, Proctorville, burglary.
• James A Chaffin, 36, 784 County Road 411, Proctorville, felonious assault and misdemeanor counts of theft and criminal trespass.
• Jerome M. Leggette, 36, Ashland, Ky., failure to comply with the order and signal of a police officer.
• Breanna Boggess, 21, Ashland, Ky., two counts of complicity to burglary and her codefendant,
• Johnny L. Miller, 27, 64 Private Drive 423, Pedro, two counts of burglary.
• Jeremy D. Riffe, 32, Greenup, Ky., breaking and entering. He is accused of stealing copper from the old West Ironton School earlier this year.
• Alexander W. Huddle, 30, 4644 County Road 29, Pedro, aggravated burglary with a firearm specification, disrupting public service and two counts of aggravated menacing.
• John W. Adkins Jr., 31, 358 Private Drive, Chesapeake, complicity to aggravated robbery and his codefendant,
• Paul W. Moore Jr., 41, Huntington, W.Va., aggravated robbery.
• Colleen Snyder, 32, 117 Meadow Lane, South Point, theft, aggravated possession of drugs and two counts of misdemeanor possession of drugs
• Randy E. Jackson, 32, 2418 S. Fourth St., Ironton, surrender of cancellation of a certificate of title, issuance of salvage title, rebuilt salvage certificate of title.
• Stephen V. Wilcox, 58, 107 Oakwood Drive, Coal Grove, aggravated theft.
• Aimee L. Busick, 22, 50 Township Road 1202, Chesapeake, theft.
• Jeffrey A. Penwell, 51, 289 Township Road 155E, Pedro, resisting arrest, assault on a peace officer and disorderly conduct.
• Ryan E. Cooper, 31, 807 N. Fifth St., Ironton, breaking and entering. He is accused of breaking into the Ironton city garage last month.
• Gary F. Akers, 32, Worthington, Ky., felonious assault.
• Joshua D. McKenzie, 25, Oak Hill, theft.
• Melissa D. Clutters, 27, 818 ½ S. Fourth St., Ironton, aggravated possession of drugs, possession of drug abuse instruments
• Alexa N. Keaton, 18, 121 Township Road 1105, Proctorville, burglary and theft and her codefendant,
• Joshua J. Johnson, 21, Huntington, W.Va., complicity to burglary.
• Angela M. Stafford, 32, 52 Township Road 1404, South Point, theft, misdemeanor criminal trespass and two misdemeanor counts of theft.
• Thomas M. Butler, 45, 549 Township Road 1233, Proctorville, three counts of sexual battery. Butler was indicted on other sex charges last year.
• Kaye F. Ross, 47, 78 Township Road 1425, South Point, two counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs.
These new charges involve the same victim and same incidents, but clarify the allegation he had a parental role in the victim’s life.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
Posted by SoundByte (anonymous) on February 23, 2010 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to say it is my sincere hope that all the ignorant sphincter orifices out there will know one day such pain as they would look to anything for relief and the same people catch the same heck as those whom grow and use a little harmless weed to have some "Quality Of Life" are in turn denied the same way. Except I would wish such a thing on no man, woman, or child. I am not talking about the punk dealer down the street or the ones trying to lure our children in but rather the ones who seriously need and benefit from it. Easy to pass judgement while you sit there eating painkiller and muscle relaxers that destroy your liver and kidneys, easy to talk crap while last night you drank your beer or liquor and you know many of you have driven under the influence of them all. Oh but you are so rightous aren't you? Like to know what blind ignorant support gets you? Look around? Feel safe in your home? Isn't the economy swelll? Arent you glad local and national governent tells yuou everything and never lies? Puhhhhlease. Marijuana does not make people stupid, stupid people smoke it the same as stupid people drink, fight, stab people in the bar, and rape or beat women. So by your own line of proof CRIMINALIZE Alcohol. You seriously need to stop, take a breath, and examine things for yourself. More money wasted and another life set in turmoil over what? A little grass? You would be surprised how many influential and intelligent people smoke and only say it's so evil so they do not have to hear the ignorant hypocrits.
Posted by SoundByte (anonymous) on February 23, 2010 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Medical use and revenue alone would aleviate so much of the budget problems while allowing nothing more than those who need it to have the same gift and right as you for some semblence of a normal life. Judge not less ye be judged hypocritical bible thumpers. The woman, man, grandparent, uncle, aunt that is growing their own "herb garden" is costing you $0 for medication they need. Many are costing you $0 for assisted living as they can move and take care of themselves with the pain relief, the sleep, the sedative properties they can get. They cost you $0 in detox and rehab clinics. So do not gripe about costs as you are the ones cheering for them to be arrested, jailed, and taken care of. Are we really so blind still in this advanced day and age as to not see this? Are we really so rightous that we say "You must live the remainder of your life in pain?". What if it was your grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, wife, husband. Ready to watch them slowly die as they fail to remember who you are? Hooked on machines for kidney failure? Ready to look back and think to yourself of your own cruelty for forcing your opinions on them while sat night you parties your respective butts off? It is time to listen to the masses as they have now hit over 70% in favor ofd the medical use and stop being laughed at by the rest of the world who have already discovered the many medical uses for it. Its time for reeducation and reevaluation. Don't care how ticked you get or what you have to say as I know for a fact, deny it all you wish, this will strike home one day on a very personal note to you. Truth is it already in all likelyhood is right in your own family. Please, make sure they suffer while you enjoy life and they watch from a bench too hurt to join in the fun, the day, and the happy events in your life.
Posted by falinrok (anonymous) on February 23, 2010 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Unfortunatly Soundbyte there are no gray areas in whats illeagle & whats not. Reguardless of its medicinal values & all the other good things about it (i partake myself) its still against the law to have it or grow it & will be treated as such untill its not. bummer isn't it ...
Posted by billco (anonymous) on February 23, 2010 at 3:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SOUNDBYTE, i think they should leagalize pot, its no different than alcohol. but read what it says, these people were not doing this for meds reason. they are selling for profit. And what about the burgular tools were they using them to cut the weeds out of their garden? i don't think so.
Posted by SoundByte (anonymous) on February 23, 2010 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Accordinjg to his brother " see comments on wsaz same story" it was 1 plant. the cash 4 grand and change sounds alot to me like a tax refund. And criminal tools, not burgular tools. Criminal tool in this case is any instrument used in cultivation, smoking, or ingesting of said material. A pencil used to poke a pipe would be construed as a criminal tool were it found to have resin from the material on it. If they can not grow it then they are forced to buy it. Buying could well mean they are "forced" by the government to support violent crime such as the cartels and mob. Legalize, kick the leg out of the profit, generate legitinate revenue. Check the returns from the states already legal. Amazing!! While we lose good police "people", schools are forced to close, and a vast multitude of other services are no longer available. A pity, I hope for all soon they realize they are doing less harm than by selling that Jack, Everclear, Jager, etc. ATF already covers moonshine stihls lol the issue would fall to them for "illegal" crops same as tobacco. Taxation, since when do they not have their hand out?? lol
Posted by osufan (anonymous) on February 23, 2010 at 10:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE WHO HAS EVER DIED FROM SMOKING A LIL WEED BUT HOW MANY DEATHS FROM ALCOHOL AND PILLS?YOU TELL'EM SOUNDBYTE
Posted by payson (anonymous) on February 24, 2010 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
well lets petition and put it to a vote to legalize mary jane...then there is more tax revenue for the county!
Posted by theguydowtown (anonymous) on February 24, 2010 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All of you potheads need to wake up. It is illegal.
I bet none of you smoke it and blow the smoke into your kids faces. Why not? Cause it is harmful.
Posted by SoundByte (anonymous) on February 24, 2010 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow bet your kid loves having a drink with you too lol Look back in history putz, refernece, prohibition. Morondowntown
Posted by SoundByte (anonymous) on February 24, 2010 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ps Ever read what they did to the chirstians when that was illegal and punishable by death? It is morons just like you I was referring to thanks for the glowing example. You illustrate my point wonderfully. Thank you again
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)