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Lawrence County grand jury returns indictments in drug, organized crime, sex abuse cases
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LOUISA — The Lawrence County grand jury returned 24 indictments March 12. Cases ranged from alleged child sex abuse and organized fraud at a Louisa bank to drug trafficking, burglary and assault. Teresa Blunt, 64, of Fort Gay, West Virginia, was indicted on possession of a controlled substance, first degree…
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Martin County arrest report
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT INEZ — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk’s Office reported the following arrests: Jason Kenneth Fields, 41, of Inez, was arrested March 30 on New Route 3 in Davella on charges of possession of controlled substance, first degree (carfentanil or fentanyl derivatives) and possession of controlled substance, first degree, first offense (methamphetamine). According…
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Williamson fire chief placed on administrative leave after his arrest
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — Williamson Fire Chief Joey Michael Carey has been placed on administrative leave after his arrest Friday night for allegedly firing a handgun round into a neighboring apartment in the building where he lives. Carey, 49, was taken into custody at about 9 p.m. at the fire department…
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Williamson fire chief arrested on wanton endangerment charges
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — Williamson Fire Chief Joey Michael Carey was arrested Friday night after a roughly three-month investigation into allegations that he fired two handgun rounds into a neighboring apartment in the downtown Williamson building where he lives. West Virginia State Police took Carey, 49, into custody at about 9…
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Murder trial set May 4 in killing of West Virginia trooper
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — A Matewan man accused in the 2023 killing of a West Virginia State Police sergeant is scheduled to stand trial May 4 in Mingo County Circuit Court after a case marked by delays, a failed venue-change effort and a mistrial last year. Timothy Kennedy Jr., 32, has…
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Tomahawk man gets two-year prison sentence in stolen ATV case
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Tomahawk man was sentenced March 19 in Martin Circuit Court to two years in prison for his role in a stolen ATV case dating back to 2023. Rush Fraley, 49, pleaded guilty Feb. 5 to receiving stolen property valued at $1,000 to $10,000/complicity, a Class D felony.…
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Lovely man draws six-year prison sentence in fentanyl case
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Martin County man drew a six-year prison sentence March 19 in Martin Circuit Court after pleading guilty to a fentanyl trafficking charge. Henry Butcher, 27, of Lovely, received the sentence after pleading guilty Feb. 5, 2026, to first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (over 2 grams of…
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Martin County arrest report
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT INEZ — Martin County Sheriff John Kirk’s Office reported the following arrests: Erin A. Kugel, 23, was arrested March 21 on Long Branch Road in Lovely on a bench warrant from Magoffin District Court. Deputy JC Kirk served the warrant at 6:50 p.m. Ashley R. Salmons, 34, of Tomahawk, was arrested March…
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FBI issues warning about scams
The FBI Louisville Field Office is warning Kentuckians about a rise in fraud schemes in which scammers pose as law enforcement officers or government officials to extort money or steal personal information. According to the FBI, the scams often begin with an unsolicited phone call from someone using a spoofed number to make the call…
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Debord man admits stealing water service, ordered to repay utility
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Martin County man admitted in court to stealing water service after authorities said he bypassed a shut-off and restored water at his Debord home. John Allen, 39, pleaded guilty March 5 in Martin Circuit Court to theft of services $1,000-$10,000, a Class D felony. Under the plea…
