Special prosecutor appointed

The case against Charles Edens, the man accused last week of shooting and killing Auston Wells, will go to the grand jury and it will be handled by a special prosecutor.

Edens, 22, of Ironton, was in Ironton Municipal Court Thursday morning for a preliminary hearing. Appearing with his attorney, J.T. Holt, Edens waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Judge O. Clark Collins then bound the case over to the grand jury.

Edens is accused of shooting Wells near the corner of Eighth and Madison streets shortly after 10 p.m. Wells was taken to Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital in Russell, Ky., where he later died.

Thursday, Collins said the case was being handled by a special prosecutor, Paul Scarsella from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, as opposed to the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office.

“There was a conflict of interest with the prosecutor’s office so they asked if I would handle it,” Scarsella explained. He declined to discuss specifics of the case, such as a motive.

Members of both the Edens’ family and Auston Wells’ family attended the brief hearing. Neither side wanted to make any comments. Holt, however, said Edens is looking forward to his day in court.

“The case is still under investigation for both the defense and prosecution. However, Mr. Edens maintains his innocence and is looking forward to the judicial process knowing that,” Holt said.

Edens remains in the Lawrence County Jail under a $250,000 bond.