BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

PAINTSVILLE — A jury recommended a 35-year prison sentence last week for a Tomahawk man found guilty of breaking into his ex-wife’s home, brutally attacking her and two family members, and killing her dog.

Judge John David Preston announced the verdict July 13 in Paintsville finding Mardy Mollett Jr., 52, of Tomahawk, guilty of first-degree burglary, second-degree assault, first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree cruelty to animals.

The jury recommended 20 years for burglary, 10 years for assault, five years for criminal mischief, and 12 months in the county jail and a $500 fine for cruelty to animals.

The three-day trial started July 11 and stemmed from an incident March 13, 2020, in which Mollett broke into his ex-wife Pamela Blevins’ home on Rockhouse Road, beat her with a gun, strangled her and shot her dog. The horrific night ended with Blevins in the hospital with seven fractured ribs and other injuries.

The dog, Huey, died four days later from gunshot wounds.

Mollett fled the scene armed with four of Blevins’ guns, but police caught up with him the following week in Logan County, W.Va.

In opening statements last week, Commonwealth Attorney Matt Runyons told jurors the horrific incident started with Mollett standing in Blevins’ driveway holding a gas can, saying, “[Explicit], if you pull that gun, you better pull the trigger.”

Runyon said Mollett then punched Blevins in the face, knocking her back through the front door of her home and onto the floor.

“And at that point, Mardy was just starting to party,” said Runyon. “Because once he got inside our victim’s home, man, he really started to rock’n’roll.”

The trial revealed that Mollett and Blevins’ relationship goes back 25 years. They were involved in a romantic relationship and were married for a number of years. However, the relationship deteriorated, and they ended up getting divorced but remained civil and would help each other out. But by November 2019, the relationship had completely deteriorated. By March 13, 2020, things got uncivil.

Blevins attended the funeral of Mollett’s nephew on that date, and she and Mollett argued at the church. Blevins left the funeral home and returned home with her daughter Whitley Stacy and her son-in-law Andy Stacy. All of them noticed a truck pulling into the driveway.

Blevins was on the porch when Marty put the truck in park and got out holding a gas can. He told her he was prepared to burn her out if she weren’t home.

Blevins pulled a .38 revolver and told him to stop, not to come any closer. He started closing the distance, and she didn’t pull the trigger. Moments later, he was right up on her.

“That’s when he rears back that big right hand and punches her square in the face, knocks her back through the door of her home and onto the living room floor,” said Runyons. “As she falls, she loses control of the 38, and it falls to the floor too. Then Mollett pounces on her. He’s kneeing, punching, choking, trying to gain control of the 38 revolver, and eventually, he does.”

Mollett took the handgun and beat Blevins with it, hitting her face. Blevins’ daughter picked up a chair and smashed it across Mollett’s back. Mollett stood up, saw a 9mm semi-automatic handgun on the side table in the living room and grabbed it.

Mollett forced Blevins to give him every gun she had in the house by holding her at gunpoint.

He smashed almost every window out of her home and shot up her TV, refrigerator, dehumidifier and walls. He took the 9mm into the bathroom where Blevins’ dog was hiding in the corner and put three bullets in the dog before he left the house.

On his way out, he put a gun to the hood of her car and shot holes through her radiator and engine block.

“As he left, he said to her, ‘Pam, if there are any repercussions from this, no one will find you,’” said Runyon.

Blevins got in her truck that Mollett had just shot and made it to Zip Zone on New Route 3 before the truck overheated. She stopped and called 911 and reported the crime. Then she got in the car with a friend who took her to Pikeville Medical Center.

Blevins spent two days in the hospital.

Following the verdict last week, Blevins said, “Thirty-five years feels pretty good. Matt Runyon did a phenomenal job. He was just awesome, and he got every year he could get. I am truly grateful for all his hard work. He kept me updated on every aspect of the trial.”

Blevins said even with a 35-year sentence, she still worries about Mollett being able to cause her harm.

“He always told me if I’m looking at a lot of time, I’ll run,” said Blevins. “I know he’s in jail, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have someone else harm me.”