BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The Martin County grand jury returned a slate of indictments involving nearly a dozen individuals in its April 3 session. Charges range from drug trafficking and wanton endangerment to receiving stolen property and terroristic threatening.
Josh Scott, AKA Joshua Scott, 38, of Debord, faces charges of receiving stolen property valued under $10,000, complicity, and persistent felony offender in the first degree.
The grand jury alleges Scott acted alone or in concert with John Allen, also 38 and of Debord, on Feb. 12, when he allegedly received and possessed AT&T phone and fiber optic wire worth approximately $4,680.
The indictment further states that Scott has a prior felony conviction for which he served a sentence of one year or more within the past five years. His bond is $5,000.
Allen faces charges of receiving stolen property under $10,000 and complicity in connection with the same incident. The indictment alleges he either acted independently or alongside Scott in receiving and possessing the stolen AT&T materials. His bond is $5,000.
Justin Marcum, 38, of Inez, is facing multiple charges stemming from a November 2024 incident. Charges include two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, operating on a suspended or revoked license, failure to use child restraint devices (two counts), careless driving, and failure to wear a seat belt.
According to the indictment, on Nov. 15, 2024, Marcum allegedly endangered the lives of two juvenile passengers by engaging in conduct that created a substantial risk of serious physical injury. The grand jury alleges that neither child was properly secured in a child restraint system at the time.
Marcum was reportedly operating a motor vehicle despite knowing his license was suspended Oct. 17, 2024. The indictment further states that he drove in a careless manner, showing disregard for the safety of pedestrians and other drivers, and failed to wear a seat belt.
His bond is $5,000.
Brandon Parsons, 41, of Lovely, is facing a charge of possession of a controlled substance in the first degree (methamphetamine). The indictment states that police caught Parsons on Feb. 5 with methamphetamine. His bond is $5,000.
Charles Wallace, 59, of Inez, is staring down a charge of terroristic threatening in the second degree. The indictment allleges that on Jan. 15 Wallace threatened to commit an act likely to result the death or serious injury of another person. His bond is $5,000.
William Wallace Newsome, 36, of Kermit, West Virginia, faces multiple charges, including first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to the indictment, on Nov. 29, 2024, law enforcement caught Newsome with meth and a used syringe. His bond is $5,000.
Newsome is also charged in a separate indictment with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. Prosecutors allege that despite previous felony convictions in both West Virginia and Alabama, he had a Jennings 9mm handgun on the same date. Bond in that case also is $5,000.
Damien Williams, 63, of Warfield, is facing trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree (fentanyl). According to the indictment, law enforcement caught Williams on June 6, 2024, with 1.7 grams of a Schedule II narcotic, fentanyl, with intent to traffick. His bond is $10,000.
Harlan Jude, 54, of Pilgrim, stands accused of possession of a controlled substance in the first degree (methamphetamine) and resisting arrest. The indictment states Jude was caught Feb. 6 with methamphetamine. It also states he resisted arrest by using or threatening to use physical force against a police officer. His bond is $5,000.
Samuel Porter, 29, of Debord, stands accused of two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, one count of third-degree terroristic threatening, and persistent felony offender in the first degree.
According to the indictment, on March 9, Porter allegedly engaged in conduct that posed a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to a female and a juvenile child. The grand jury further charges that Porter threatened to murder or assault the female.
The indictment also states that Porter has a prior felony conviction for which he completed a sentence of one year or more within the past five years, qualifying him as a persistent felony offender. His bond is $5,000.
Rocket Docket
Martin Circuit Judge J. Kevin Holbrook bypassed the grand jury and formally charged Johnny M. Carter, 53, of Warfield, with possession of a controlled substance in the first degree (methamphetamine). The Commonwealth Attorney states that Carter had the drug Oct. 4, 2024 when law enforcement arrested him. The judge summoned Carter to appear May 1 for arraignment.