BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — A Martin County grand jury delivered indictments Thursday against 11 individuals. Charges range from burglary and assault with a deadly weapon to drug trafficking.
Dylan Johnson, 27, of Wayland, faces charges of first-degree burglary/complicity, second-degree assault and theft by unlawful taking (over $1,000).
According to the indictment, Johnson, along with Nathan Collins, invaded the Inez home of Michael Chapman armed with a deadly weapon Aug. 8, 2023. The grand jury states Johnson assaulted Chapman with a deadly or dangerous weapon and stole $7,300. His bail is $25,000.
In connection with the same incident, Nathan Collins, 21, of Bevinsville, faces one count of first-degree burglary/complicity. Collins allegedly alongside Johnson broke into Chapman’s residence armed with a deadly weapon Aug. 8, 2023. His bail is also $25,000.
Martin Gillespie, 50, of Lovely, faces numerous charges including first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (less than 10 dosage units oxycodone), first-degree persistent felony offender, trafficking in marijuana over 8 ounces/complicity, second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (less than 20 dosage units), two counts of third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (less than 20 dosage units), and possession/use of drug paraphernalia.
According to the grand jury, when police apprehended Gillespie Nov. 6, 2023, he had eight dosage units of oxycodone (Schedule II) and other controlled substances including Butalbital (Schedule III), Alprazolam (Schedule IV) and Gabapentin (Schedule V)—each with $1,301.59 cash and the intent to traffic—and a glass pipe. The indictment states Gillespie, alone or with Tommy Booth, had 8.42 ounces of marijuana and $1,301.59 cash with intent to traffic. Due to the new felony charges and prior felony convictions, Gillespie faces a charge of persistent felony offender. His bail is $10,000.
In the related case, Tommy Booth, aka Glenn Booth, 53, of Lovely, faces trafficking in marijuana over 8 ounces in complicity with Gillespie in the same Nov. 6, 2023, incident. His bail is $5,000.
In a cross-state twist, 58-year-old Lisa Baisden, 55-year-old Douglas Sparks and 69-year-old Marlo Vance, all of Dingess, West Virginia, face felony charges. Those include first-degree possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl)/complicity, first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine)/complicity and possession/use of drug paraphernalia.
The grand jury states that when law enforcement apprehended the trio Dec. 14, 2023, they had fentanyl along with a fentanyl test strip and digital scales containing chemical residue. The indictment also states they had methamphetamine, altered straws containing chemical residue and multiple pipes. Their bail is $5,000 each.
The grand jury’s net caught Brett Waller, 59, of Lovely, for fleeing or evading in the first degree (on foot). The indictment states Waller disregarded Sheriff John Kirk’s commands to stop March 2 when the sheriff had reasonable suspicion that Waller had committed a crime. Waller had an outstanding warrant for previously fleeing and evading and violation of an emergency protective order/domestic violence order. His bail is $5,000.
Jonathan Mollett, 36, of Louisa, faces first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession/use of drug paraphernalia. The indictment states law enforcement caught Mollett with methamphetamine and an altered straw Dec. 28, 2023. His bail is $5,000.
Brianna Ellis, 19, of Tomahawk, allegedly had methamphetamine and a syringe when police apprehended her Jan. 7, leading to her indictment for first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession/use of drug paraphernalia. Her bail is $5,000.
Jimmy Maynard, 44, of Warfield, was indicted for assault in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor. The grand jury accuses Maynard of physically assaulting Robert Cox on Jan. 7.
An indictment is an accusation. All parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty.