Skipping a pretrial hearing in Ironton Municipal Court, Lawrence County prosecutors sought and received an indictment on Tommy Dalton from the grand jury which has been in session since Monday.

Wednesday, May 16, 2001

Skipping a pretrial hearing in Ironton Municipal Court, Lawrence County prosecutors sought and received an indictment on Tommy Dalton from the grand jury which has been in session since Monday.

Jurors indicted Dalton Tuesday on charges of attempt to commit murder, first-degree felony, firearm specification; and felonious assault, second-degree felony, firearm specification, Lawrence County prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr. said.

Dalton was in the city’s court last Thursday for a preliminary hearing at which prosecuting attorney Mack Anderson requested a continuance which was scheduled for this week. Anderson requested the continuance because Mrs. Dalton was unable to attend the hearing because she was still hospitalized. Dalton’s attorney, Mark McCown, protested the continuance, citing the prosecution was trying to "circumvent our opportunity for a preliminary hearing" and take the case straight to the grand jury.

Dalton is currently in the Lawrence County jail, which means his arraignment in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court could come any time this week or the last week of May, officials in the prosecutor’s office said. Dalton is being held on a $50,000 cash or $100,000 property bond.

Dalton was arrested at his home by Ironton Police officers for allegedly shooting his wife in the back with a 12-gauge shotgun during an April 30 domestic dispute.

The shooting occurred at the Dalton’s home, located at 2016 S. Ninth St.