On Tuesday, February 4, the February term of the Braxton County Grand Jury convened with the Honorable Michael Asbury, Circuit Court Judge and the Honorable Jasmine R.H. Morton presiding over the proceedings. The jury returned indictments against 16 individuals on a total of 56 various charges. Dwayne Vandevender, Braxton County Prosecuting Attorney, represented the state during the proceedings.
Jason Fox, 45 of Sutton, was indicted on charges of two counts each of domestic battery-3rd offense and domestic assault-3rd offense, and one count each for burglary and destruction of property. Braxton County Sheriff’s Deputy Harley Vest presented the evidence to the grand jury. On October 25, Fox is accused of breaking into the back door of his parent’s home where he assaulted them. He had previous charges of domestic violence from October 2023 and March 2024.
Rodney Drake, 41 of Burnsville has been indicted by the grand jury. His charges include two counts of grand larceny, four counts of driving suspended-3rd offense (non-DUI), and one count assault. In August, Drake was reported as stealing a motorcycle two times leading to the charges. West Virginia State Police TRP Andrew Groves and TRP Brandi Wiley presented the evidence to the jury.
Joshua Bly Miller, 38 of Glenville, is facing two counts of possession of child porn-photos and one count of possession of child porn-video following an investigation by WVSP TRP Caleb Harper from an investigation back in October 2024.
Shaun Michael Bennett, 39 of Sutton, was indicted by the grand jury on charges of driving revoked for DUI-3rd offense and fleeing. BCSD Deputy Andrew Jordan spoke to the members of the grand jury about the traffic stop on April 22 on South Stonewall Street in Sutton that led to the charges. During the stop, the defendant exited the vehicle and tried to flee from the officer.
Jason Glen Moore, 38 of Exchange has been indicted on two counts each of grand larceny and conspiracy. WVSP CPL B.K. Shingleton conducted the investigation from June 5 of a grand larceny complaint at Brook Run Coal Company.
Natasha Kiani-Anaraki, 36, was indicted for taking drugs into the jail and possession of controlled substance with intent to deliver. Former BCSD Deputy Jeremy Jenkins presented the evidence during the proceedings.
Melinda Louis Carter, 45 of Sutton, has been charged with delivery of fentanyl, possession with intent to deliver-fentanyl, possession with intent to deliver-cocaine, possession with intent to deliver xylazine, and two counts of possession with intent to deliver-meth. BCSD Deputy Jenkins provided the evidence from a search warrant that was served at a residence in Locust Estates for a wanted person. Officers found the drugs and items used for distribution of drugs during the search. Carter was one of the individuals in the home at the time of the search.
Aaron Joseph Fraley, 32 of Gassaway, was indicted by the grand jury on charges of fraudulent use of credit card, entering without breaking, and petit larceny of credit card. On June 11, SGT Andrew Shingler with the Gassaway Police Department received a complaint from the town in reference to the fraudulent use of a purchasing card for the Town of Gassaway. The accused was a former employee of the town.
Anthony Lewis Jones, 44 and Brittany Jade Ritter, 33, both of Gassaway, were charged with possession of with intent to deliver-fentanyl and xylazine, gross child neglect creating risk of injury, and altering controlled substance with fentanyl. On April 21, WVSP TPR Groves arrived at the home of Jones for a home visit in connection with his probation. During the visit, officers located drug paraphernalia and a juvenile child was present in the home.
Jordan Katherine Herring, 33 of Sutton, is facing three counts each of forgery and uttering. WVSP CPL J.D. Jordan, II investigated the report of the defendant submitted three different forged drug screens to the Braxton County Probation Office showing she had passed her drug screens. Her last official drug screen had been on April 25, 2024 and she had changed the dates on the passed drug screen so that she could see her children for supervised visits.
Richard David Cooke, 37 of Gassaway, has been indicted and charged with burglary, destruction of property, domestic assault, and threatening communications. Cooke was charged after WVSP TPR Groves received a breaking and entering call for a residence in on West Main Street in Sutton on April 4, 2024.
Gary Wayne Cochran, II, 27 of Poca, was indicted by the grand jury on several charges including wanton endangerment, hoax device for terrorist act, possession/use of hoax bomb, use of destructive device, and destruction of property. WVSP TPR Groves conducted an investigation of an active shooter at the Days Inn Hotel on October 7. During the investigation, Cochran was identified as the suspect in the shooting and a call for a possible “pipe bomb” on October 6.
James Denver Criner, 44 of Frametown, has been charged with driving revoked for DUI-3rd offense. On June 20, BCSD Deputy Jordan conducted a traffic stop on Route 4 in Frametown leading to the charge against Criner. The defendant had previous convictions in 2011 and 2013 for driving revoked for DUI.
Michael Shayne Wood, 35 of Burnsville, was indicted on the charge of fleeing with reckless disregard. BCSD Deputy Luke Johnson initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle which made a slow roll through a stop sign in Gassaway on May 1, 2024. The vehicle accelerated up to approximately 80mph in a 45mph zone trying to flee from the officer. Wood was eventually stopped in Clendenin when he went off an embankment into the Elk River.
Keira Lasaun Swiger, 34 of Frametown has been indicted by the grand jury on charges of grand larceny, conspiracy, and unlawful taking of a vehicle. In March 2024, BCSD Deputy Jordan received a stolen vehicle complaint which led to the charges.
(Editor’s Note: The return of an indictment by a Grand Jury indicates that a person has been charged formally 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 innocence, 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.)
