BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — In a busy day for the criminal court system, a Martin County grand jury rolled out a fresh batch of indictments Thursday while the Circuit Court followed suit with several criminal informations—charges that skip the grand jury and come straight from the prosecutor. Thirteen people now face an array of charges spanning from drug trafficking with added firearm penalties to bail jumping, assaulting a police officer and fleeing the law.
Lonnie Mitchell Pauley, 61, of Inez, faces a range of serious trafficking charges. According to the indictment, Pauley is facing counts of first-degree methamphetamine trafficking (over 2 grams), second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, and trafficking in marijuana, all charges with firearm enhancements, and drug paraphernalia possession.
The grand jury alleges that when authorities apprehended Pauley on June 20 he had 3.3 grams of meth, $655 in cash, digital scales and individual plastic baggies, with the intention to distribute. He was reportedly armed with a Harrington and Richardson 12-gauge shotgun at the time of his arrest.
The allegations do not stop there. Pauley is also accused of having nine dosage units of Suboxone, over 130 units of Gabapentin, and the same $655 in cash, again with the intent to traffic while armed.
He allegedly had marijuana ready for distribution with the ever-present shotgun in possession and five glass pipes containing chemical residue. His bail is $20,000.
Bryan Moore, 54, of Inez, Bryan Moore, 54, is staring down serious legal trouble with charges stemming from two separate indictments.
In the first case, Moore stands accused of first-degree fleeing and evading in a motor vehicle, driving on a suspended or revoked license and reckless driving. The indictment claims that on June 11, Moore ignored signals from Martin County Sheriff John Kirk, refusing to stop. At the time, he was allegedly driving with a suspended or revoked license and operating the vehicle recklessly, endangering pedestrians and other drivers. His bail is $5,000.
In the second indictment, Moore faces charges of possession of methamphetamine and tampering with physical evidence. The grand jury alleges that police caught Moore with 2.4 grams of meth on June 11 and that Moore attempted to destroy or conceal evidence that he believed could be used against him. His bail for this set of charges is also $5,000.
Harlan Jude, 53, of Pilgrim, is in hot water, facing a slew of charges: third-degree assault of a police officer, fleeing or evading police third degree, escape in the third degree, resisting arrest, menacing and public intoxication (excluding alcohol).
According to the grand jury, the trouble began Aug. 6 when Jude allegedly assaulted or attempted to assault Chief Deputy Chris Kidd of the Martin County Sheriff’s Office by exposing him to bodily fluids, including saliva, vomit, mucus, blood or urine.
That was just the beginning. The indictment details how Jude ignored commands to stop, escaped from the sheriff’s office while officers were trying to detain him, and actively resisted arrest by threatening to use physical force against the deputy. In addition to these allegations, the grand jury accuses Jude of putting another person in fear of imminent physical injury and being under the influence of a controlled substance to a degree that posed a danger to himself and others.
Jude’s bail is $5,000.
Benjamin Blackburn, 42, of Long Bottom, Ohio, has been indicted by a Martin County grand jury on a charge of first-degree bail jumping. The indictment alleges that Blackburn failed to appear for a pretrial conference Aug. 1 related to a felony charge after his release from custody on the condition that he would return for court proceedings. His bail is $5,000.
Garland Mills, 50, of Pilgrim, is facing a grand jury indictment for first-degree bail jumping. The indictment alleges that Mills failed to appear for a pretrial conference Aug. 1 in connection with a felony charge despite his release from custody on the condition that he would return. His bail is $5,000.
Larry Jude, 58, of Inez, is facing charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance (opiates) and third-degree possession of a controlled substance (Gabapentin), both under complicity. According to the indictment, on Aug. 26, Jude, either acting alone or in complicity with Andy Stacy, had 4-1/2 dosage units of Oxycodone and 4 doses of Gabapentin. His bail is $5,000.
Andy E. Stacy, 72, of Inez, faces indictment charges of possession of a controlled substance in the first degree (opiates)-complicity, possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (Gabapentin)-complicity and careless driving. According to the indictment, Stacy acted alone or in complicity with Larry Jude on Aug. 26 when he was in possession of 4-1/2 dosage units of Oxycodone and 4 doses of Gabapentin. The indictment states Stacy operated a motor vehicle with no regard for the safety and convenience of pedestrians and other vehicles on the roadway. His bail is $5,000.
Brittany Gilmore, 39, of Inez, is facing multiple charges, including first-degree possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving on a suspended or revoked license, and failure to produce an insurance card. The indictment alleges that on Aug. 6, authorities caught Gilmore with methamphetamine, five syringes, two pipes and a glass straw. She was also reportedly driving with a suspended or revoked license and without valid insurance. Her bail is $5,000.
Joe Allen Evans, 50, of Inez, is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance in the first degree (cocaine) and possession of marijuana. The grand jury accuses Evans of having 49.9 grams of cocaine and a plastic bag containing marijuana on Feb. 26. His bail is $5,000.
Informations
Unlike an indictment, issued by a grand jury after reviewing evidence, a criminal information is filed directly by a prosecutor. It typically indicates that the defendant has waived their right to a grand jury indictment, often as part of a plea deal or cooperation with law enforcement. Martin Circuit Court issued the following informations:
Steve A. Marcum, 55, of Louisa, is facing a range of charges including criminal littering, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and tampering with physical evidence.
According to the Commonwealth Attorney, during Marcum’s Aug. 6 arrest, he allegedly threw or placed litter on a public roadway, was found with methamphetamine, and had a narcotics pipe with burn residue commonly used for ingesting controlled substances. Marcum is also accused of attempting to hide evidence that he believed could be used against him.
Martin Circuit Judge J. Kevin Holbrook has scheduled Marcum’s arraignment for Sept. 19.
William E. Moore, 52, of Louisa, has been indicted on several charges, including first-offense DUI within 10 years, failure to wear seat belts, driving with a suspended or revoked license, and first-degree possession of methamphetamine.
According to the Commonwealth Attorney, on July 11, Moore was allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, impairing his ability to safely operate a vehicle. The indictment further states that Moore was transporting an adult passenger who was not properly restrained by a seat belt and was behind the wheel despite his license being suspended or revoked. Authorities also allege Moore was in possession of methamphetamine at the time of his arrest.
Moore is scheduled to appear for arraignment Sept. 19.
Ricky L. Goble, 60, of Irvine, is facing a charge of possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, first offense. The Commonwealth Attorney states that at the time of Goble’s arrest July 27 he had methamphetamine in his possession. The judge ordered Goble to appear Sept. 19 for arraignment.
Chelsey Jolas, 32, of Cookeville, Tennessee, faces a charge of possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, first offense. The Commonwealth Attorney alleges that Jolas was caught July 6 with methamphetamine. She must appear Sept. 19 for arraignment.