BY ANNIE HOLLER
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — The Mingo County grand jury returned 47 indictments during its first session of 2026, including charges against a former Mingo Central High School teacher and coach accused of sexual contact with an underage student. The indictments span a wide range of alleged offenses, from drug trafficking and violent crimes to child neglect and property crimes involving defendants from communities across the county.

Kevin Baisden, 36, of Delbarton, stands indicted on two counts of sexual contact against a student by a school employee and one count of soliciting a minor via computer.

According to testimony presented to the grand jury by West Virginia State Police Trooper C.K. Johnson, the investigation began after the assistant principal at Mingo Central High School reported concerns on Dec. 2, 2024, alleging that Baisden, then a full-time substitute teacher and assistant boys basketball coach, had been inappropriately messaging a student by cellphone.

Baisden resigned from both positions effective Dec. 3, 2024, and was arrested in April 2025.

During the investigation, the victim told police that Baisden had slapped her on the buttocks with a guitar on two occasions in November 2024, pulled her hair while walking past her and repeatedly engaged in what she described as “play-fighting,” during which he grabbed her wrists and hands.

According to court records, a review of subpoenaed cellphone records revealed several hundred text messages exchanged between Baisden and the student, including messages that prosecutors say suggested a romantic relationship and referenced the teen’s virginity and a claimed spiritual connection.

Justin Adam Ash, 38, of Williamson, has been indicted on 16 counts of failure to provide notices of address changes to the WVSP Sex Offender Registry, first offense.

Lester Bailey, 28, of Mohawk, was indicted on one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver, and one count each of conspiracy to possess fentanyl and methamphetamine with intent to deliver.

Edric Ball, 66, of Kermit, has been indicted on one count of grand larceny.

Amanda Michelle Blankenship, 36, of Matewan, is indicted on two counts of gross neglect of a child creating risk of death or serious bodily injury, and two counts of neglect causing bodily injury.

Ballard Lee Blankenship, 40, of Amherstdale, was indicted on charges of two counts each of gross neglect of a child creating risk of serious bodily injury, child neglect causing injury and DUI causing serious bodily injury. The charges stemmed from a motor vehicle collision in which two unrestrained minor children were injured. Gilbert Police Chief Nathan Glanden arrested Blankenship, along with Amanda Michelle Blankenship, Dec. 27, 2025.

Nikita Blankenship, 27, of Gilbert, is indicted on one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver, one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, two counts of conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to deliver, two counts of conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to deliver, one count of fleeing on foot and one count of conspiracy to flee on foot.

Rebecca Leigh Blankenship, 40, of Baisden, has been indicted on one count each of possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, possession of Alprazolam with intent to deliver, conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to deliver, conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to deliver and conspiracy to possess Alprazolam with intent to deliver.

Cheyenne Hope Bradford, age and address unknown, stands indicted on one count each of malicious assault, assault during the commission of a felony and conspiracy to commit malicious assault.

Christopher Allen Bumgarner, 39, of Chapmanville, was indicted on a single count of breaking and entering.

Samantha Renee Browning, 37, of Panther, was indicted on one count each of possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver, possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to deliver, and conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to deliver.

Ronnie Lee Campbell, 50, of Delbarton, has been indicted on two counts each of possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver, possession of heroin with intent to deliver and possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver.

Austin Scott Canterbury, 28, of Williamson, was indicted on one count of burglary and one count of grand larceny.

Charles Ernest Chapman, 47, of Verdunville, has been indicted on one count of burglary, one count of grand larceny, and one count of destruction of property valued at $2,500 or more.

Joseph A. Colangelo, 46, of Delbarton, was indicted on one count each of kidnapping, malicious assault, assault during the commission of a felony, wanton endangerment and two counts of cruelty to animals.

John Everett Copley, 40, of Delbarton, was indicted on one count of felony escape from custody, two counts of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and one count of possession of amphetamine with intent to deliver.

William Odell Dickey, 55, of Widel, has been indicted on one count of destruction of property valued at more than $2,500.

Cody Dean Donald, 33, of Kermit, has been indicted on one count each of grand larceny, breaking and entering, destruction of property valued at more than $2,500, conspiracy to commit grand larceny, conspiracy to commit breaking and entering, and conspiracy to commit destruction of property.

Nikita Kaye Endicott, 39, of Williamson, has been indicted on one count each of possession of gabapentin with intent to deliver, possession of Alprazolam with intent to deliver, and possession of hydrocodone with intent to deliver.

Louie Gauze, 55, of Williamson, was indicted on one count each of grand larceny, destruction of property valued at more than $2,500, interception of communication, and third-offense domestic battery.

Ricky Lee Gauze, 47, of Williamson, was indicted on one count of failure to provide notice of address change to sex offender registration, second offense.

Evan A. Hall, 26, of Delbarton, stands indicted on one count each of wanton endangerment, destruction of property valued greater than $2,500, malicious or unlawful assault and assault during the commission of a felony.

Mark Anthony, age and address unknown, and Shandale Brooke Hall, age and address unknown, were each indicted on one count of child abuse resulting in bodily injury.

Steven Marcus Hatfield, 40, of North Springs, was indicted on one count each of domestic battery, second offense, kidnapping and attempted robbery.

Keith Hall, 34, of Gilbert, stands indicted on two counts conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to deliver, two counts conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to deliver, one count of assessory after the fact, one count fleeing with reckless indifference to other, one count driving while license revoked for DUI, one count fleeing on foot and one count of conspiracy to flee on foot.

Nicholas Eugene Hunt, 41, of Panther, was indicted on one count each of possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver, possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to deliver, conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to deliver, and prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

Shelby Louise Hunt, 30, of Panther, was indicted on one count each of possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver, possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to deliver, and conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to deliver.

William Earl Kiper, 61, of Delbarton, stands indicted on five counts of failure to provide notice of sex offender registration changes and one count of altered motor vehicle registration plate.

Brian Gregory Lane, 31, of Baisden, has been indicted on one count of felony escape from custody.

Jeffery Lowell Marcum, 61, of Breeden, was indicted on one count each of possession of marijuana and prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

Casey Jo Matthews, 39, of Williamson, was indicted on one count of domestic battery, third degree.

Matthew John May, 39, of Delbarton, was indicted on one count each of fleeing from an officer, driving with a revoked license for a third-offense DUI, breaking and entering, grand larceny, and destruction of property valued at more than $2,500.

Brian Dieon Mitchell, 34, of Meadow Bridge, has been indicted on one count each of attempted murder, driving while license revoked for DUI and leaving the scene of an accident causing injury.

Krysti Marie Murphy, 36, of Danville, was indicted on one count each of driving while license revoked for DUI, third offense, DUI, reckless driving and obstructing an officer.

Randy Dale New, 38, of Baisden, stands indicted on one count of malicious assault, one count of strangulation, and one count of child abuse by parent, guardian or person in a position of trust causing bodily injury.

John Michael Payne, 37, of Williamson, was indicted on one count each of breaking and entering, grand larceny, conspiracy to commit breaking and entering and conspiracy to commit grand larceny.

John Paul Reedy, 43, of Kermit, was indicted on one count of cruelty to animals, second offense.

Eric Sartin, 30, of Kermit, has been indicted on one count of escape from custody.

Samantha Smith, age not provided, of Williamson, was indicted on five counts of delivery of fentanyl and one count of delivery of heroin.

Robert Jerome Warren, 51, of Williamson, stands indicted on one count of kidnapping, one count of strangulation and one count of malicious wounding.

Brandon Neil White, 40, of Delbarton, has been indicted on one count each of grand larceny and one count of conspiracy to commit grand larceny.

Ethan Phillip Wiles, 22, of Baisden, was indicted on one count each of malicious assault, strangulation, assault during the commission of a felony, and conspiracy to commit malicious assault.

Jeremy Scott Williams, 34, of Kermit, was indicted on one count of grand larceny and one count of conspiracy to commit grand larceny.

Joshua Shae Wolford, 37, of Edgarton, was indicted on one count of entry of a building other than a dwelling.

James Shannon Woods, 47, of Belfry, Kentucky, was indicted on one count of domestic battery, third offense.

Steven Dwayne Woolum, 47, of Hanover, was indicted on a single count of grand larceny.

(Editor’s note: An indictment is an accusation. All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.)