Fourteen Individuals Indicted by Grand Jury

On Tuesday, October 4, the October term of the Braxton County Grand Jury convened with the Honorable Richard A. Facemire, Circuit Court Judge presiding. The jury returned indictments against 14 individuals on a total of 44 various charges. Braxton County Prosecuting Attorney Jasmine R.H. Morton presented the witnesses and evidence against the following individuals to the grand jury on behalf of the state.
Cody Earl Hinerman, 25 of Fairmont, was indicted on the felony charge of aiding escape and other offenses relating to adults in custody or confinement. On April 6, the defendant’s cell mate at Central Regional Jail was transported to Braxton County Memorial Hospital with a possible overdose. After interviewing the cell mate, jail officials learned that Hinerman came into CRJ with three small black rubber glove fingers containing fentanyl in a body cavity. CPL P.A. Huff was the investigating officer.
Jennifer Trudy Malcomb, 34 of French Creek and Roy David Rhodes, 43 of Sutton are facing charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and conspiracy. CPL J.D. Jordan, II was attempting to locate Malcomb on an escape warrant out of Lewis County on May 18. He located Malcomb and Rhodes at the Laurel Court Motel. While searching the room, officers found plastic bags and glass vials containing a white powdery substance that field tested positive for meth and a digital weight scale.
Jeremy Wayne Hudson, 44 of Charleston was indicted on attempt to commit grand larceny and destruction of property. SR TPR C.D. Harper responded to a complaint of an individual attempting to steal of vehicle. The trooper located the suspect on scene in the car with a broken driver’s rear side window.
Brian Keith Louk, 50 of Burnsville was charged with driving while license revoked for driving under the influence, 3rd or subsequent offense. On May 28, Burnsville Patrolman Matthew M. Kesling initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle with malfunctioning brake lights on a trailer. The driver, Louk, admitted to the officer that his license was suspended.
Hannibal Taft Ryan, IV, 25 of Spencer has been indicted on the charges of fleeing with reckless indifference and fraudulent registration. On July 14, Deputy Andrew Jordan tried to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle with a defective exhaust and fraudulent registration. The vehicle failed to stop and went over 100 mph on I-79. The vehicle slid into a ditch after leaving the interstate before the deputy was able to get Ryan into custody.
Matthew Ben Hamrick, 38 of Gassaway was indicted on burglary and petit larceny charges. Deputy Luke Johnson responded to a burglary complaint in Gassaway on August 25. Video footage from a neighbor led to the suspect’s arrest.
John Bradley Meadows, 50 of Exchange has been charged with wanton endangerment involving a firearm and robbery or attempted robbery. On September 9, 2021, Deputy Cleve Westfall and other officer responded to a call for law enforcement by the defendant. Meadows stated a woman had come to his house at 10:30 pm to buy corn. When officers went to the woman’s residence, she was visibly shaken. She told officers she had stopped to buy for her pigs when the suspect came out of his home shooting a gun. He then forced her to give him her wallet.
James Allen Stewart, 64 of Sutton was indicted on six charges, two counts of conspiracy, deliver of fentanyl, possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, and possession of suboxone with intent to deliver. On March 25, Deputy Andrew Groves and other law enforcement officers served a search warrant after officers had conducted several controlled buys from his residence. Fentanyl, meth and suboxone were found at the home. Also charged through this investigation, were Robert Ray Jones, 32 of Gassaway and Britney Marion McEvers, 33 of Sutton. Jones has been charged with two counts of conspiracy, two counts of delivery of fentanyl and one count of delivery of heroin. McEvers was indicted on nine charges, four counts of conspiracy, two counts of delivery of fentanyl, and one count each of possession with intent to deliver for fentanyl, methamphetamine, and suboxone.
Jessica Ann Taylor, 40 of Summersville was indicted on the charge of aiding escape and other offenses relating to adults in custody or confinement after entering the jail with methamphetamine in early 2022. WVSP CPL George Jones presented the evidence to the grand jury.
Donald Lee Bowers, 45 of Napier has been indicted on the following charges, two counts each of burglary, grand larceny, and prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and one count of fleeing with reckless indifference. In June and July BCSD deputies responded to several calls referencing burglaries in the Napier area. The investigation led them to Bowers as the suspect after witnesses saw him with stolen items in his possession.
Michael Edward Neal, 28 of Chloe was indicted by the grand jury on grand larceny and conspiracy charges. On June 22, CPL F.L. Raynor was in the Duck area where he was stopped by an individual who informed him that he just had culverts stolen from his property. The investigation led the trooper to Neal who then admitted he had taken them to a residence in Calhoun County.