The Braxton County Grand Jury convened on October 8 with Judge Michael W. Asbury, Jr. presiding. The state was represented by Braxton County Prosecuting Attorney Dwayne Vandevender. Twenty individuals were indicted on a total of 115 charges.
Gary Beamer, 44 of Sutton has been indicted on ten counts of obtaining money, property and services by false pretenses, five counts of fraud and related activity in connection with access devices, and obtaining money, property and services by false pretenses-fraudulent schemes. WVSP SGT D.L. Gordon investigated Beamer regarding beauty pageants he ran from April 2007 to April 2023 during which he told contestants they would raise money to benefit St. Jude’s Medical Research Hospital as part of the pageant. He was also the administrator of a Christmas pageant since 2015 in which contestants raised money to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association of West Virginia. The defendant is accused of keeping the money that was raised for his personal use.
Kirtiss Stanley Swearingen, 71 of Gassaway has been charged with two counts of failure to register sex offender. In December 2023, TPR A. L. Groves responded to a call in Gassaway regarding telephone harassment. The suspect was identified as the defendant and during the investigation he was observed driving a vehicle not listed as one of his registered vehicles as required.
Makenzie Jo Wimer, 40 of Gassaway was indicted and charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver for fentanyl and methamphetamine. WVSP TPR A. L. Groves investigated drug activity on Bear Creek Road in Gassaway leading to these charges.
Jared Heath Smearman, 43 and Cassondra Carol Smearman, 35, both of Gassaway are facing two counts each of burglary and petit larceny, as well as one count each of felony destruction of property and conspiracy. In January and February 2024, Gassaway Police Chief Aaron James received two separate call of stolen property at the same residence for complaints of stolen property. The property owner had video surveillance installed and was able to provide the officer with photos and videos of the suspects.
Everett Kurtis Meadows, 33 of Gassaway is facing two counts of grand larceny. In December 2023, WVSP SGT B. K. Smith responded to a complaint of the theft of two motorcycles in Frametown. Meadows was identified as the suspect and when contacted stated he had stolen the motorcycles.
Derrick Thomas Young, 42 of Ireland was indicted by the grand jury on three counts of failure to register sexual offender. On February 26, the federal probation office contacted WVSP CPL J. D. Jordan, II in reference to Young having a cell phone and two Facebook accounts that were not registered with the WVSP.
Dazian Cargill, 20, Chase Dwight Thomas, 20, and Paul Andre Gary, 18 of Akron, OH, along with Carissa Mauric Liberti, 33, Noah Keith Kushak, 33, Ashley Nicole Alexander, 39, of Little Birch all have been indicted by the grand jury and charged with possession with intent to deliver, bringing drugs into the state (meth, fentanyl, heroin, xylazine, fluorinated fentanyl analogue), conspiracy, and conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver. On March 29, WVSP TPR B. J. Wiley, along with other officers, were serving an arrest warrant on Kushak at a home on Dennison Mountain Road in Sutton when the odor of marijuana was detected leading to a search of the residence and the charges.
David Andrew White, III, 43 of Walton, has been indicted by the grand jury on one count each of aiding escape and other offenses relating to adults in custody and possession of meth with intent to deliver. Law enforcement transported White from Spencer to the Central Regional Jail in July 2023 where, during processing, a small bag containing meth was located.
Stephanie Ann Smarr, 37 of Bridgeport was indicted on three counts of possession with intent to deliver for methamphetamine, fentanyl, and xylazine. These charges stem from when WVSP CPL P. A. Huff was dispatched to Burnsville Public Library for a welfare check on a female passed out in a vehicle in September 2023.
Tabitha Knight, 34 was charged with three counts of possession with intent to deliver for meth, fentanyl, and xylazine.
Carl Woodrow Bender, 50, has been indicted on charges of three counts of sexual assault first degree, five counts of sexual assault second degree, eight counts of sexual abuse first degree, and twelve counts of sexual abuse by parent, guardian or custodian.
Mark Ryan James, 49 was indicted on kidnapping, attempted arson, and two counts of domestic battery charges.
Carl William James and Robin Louise James were both indicted on charges of display of obscene matter to seduce minor, sexual assault first degree, sexual assault second degree, sexual abuse first degree, sexual abuse third degree, sexual abuse by parent, guardian or custodian, and gross child neglect creating risk of injury.
(Editor’s Note: The return of an indictment by a Grand Jury indicates that a person has been formally charged by the State with the commission of a crime or crimes. It is an accusation. The U.S. Constitution provides that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the state. Upon entering a plea of innocent, persons accused of a crime are entitled to a trial by a jury of their peers. The guilt or innocence of the accused is determined by a Petit Jury not by means of an indictment by a Grand Jury.)
Devoted to Braxton County, West Virginia