On Friday, April 12, 2013 at approximately 10:00 a.m. Deputies R. D. Meadows and M. D. Dickerson arrested James A. Triplett at an apartment on George’s Creek Drive, near Malden.  He was arrested on several outstanding felony warrants related to the manufacturing of methamphetamine.  Mr. Triplett was arraigned by Magistrate Tim Halloran, who set his bond at $25,000.00, with a 10% surety option.  Triplett was then transported to South Central Regional Jail in lieu of bond.

Attached is a copy of Triplett’s mug shot from this morning (April 12, 2013).  An additional mug shot may be found on the Regional Jail Authority’s website.  As is always the case in criminal matters, the charges against Triplett are merely accusation.  He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Corporal B. D. Humphreys

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office

301 Virginia Street East,

Charleston WV 25301

304-357-0732 / 304-951-7328

On April 15, 2013, at approximately 4:30 a.m. Metro 911 received a 911 call reporting a home invasion style robbery occurred on the 5300 block of Raven Drive in Rand, WV.  Four people (two males and two females) were inside the home at the time of the crime.  All sustained minor injuries from the attack.  Several said they were struck with pistols. 

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Deputies M. A. Dolin, B. L. Adams, and W. S. Hunter responded.  They were quickly joined by several other deputies and WV State Police Troopers.  The responding deputies processed and documented the crime scene, and interviewed victims and witnesses.

The suspects, possibly two males and one female, were wearing ski masks and dark clothing.  They entered the home with guns in hand and demanded money and drugs.  They left with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact him at the Kanawha Bureau of Investigation at 304-357-0156 or submit a tip on our agency’s website, www.kanawhasheriff.us.  Tips can be submitted anonymously.

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Released on 04/15/2013 at 10:45 a.m.

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Corporal B. D. Humphreys

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office

301 Virginia Street East,

Charleston WV 25301

304-357-0732 / 304-951-7328

On Thursday, April 18, 2013, Deputy C. D. Lyons of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint of a stolen tractor.  The 1954 Massey-Ferguson tractor had a 30 hp engine and new tires made in India.  Several appliances, electrical components, and a tree stand were also stolen.  The items were taken from a hunting camp in the Kelley’s Creek area in eastern Kanawha County. 

Deputy Lyons received a tip the tractor was on U.S. Route 60 near R.J. Recycling in Glasgow on April 19, 2013.  Other deputies who were closer soon arrived but the tractor had already been moved, probably sold to someone along the roadside.  Deputy Lyons learned the suspects had tried to sell the tractor at R.J. Recycling, but the business refused to accept it. 

During the course of the investigation Deputy Lyons was able to identify two suspects in the theft:  Anthony Scott Jenkins (age 31 of Whitesville, WV), and Joseph A. Williams (age 30 of Whitesville, WV).  Mr. Jenkins was arrested by a Whitesville Police officer this afternoon (April 30, 2013).  The warrants for Mr. Williams are still outstanding.  He is charged with burglary and grand larceny, both felonies.  A copy of a previous mug shot for Joseph A. Williams is attached.

Deputy Lyons is seeking information on the whereabouts of the tractor.  It is described as a 1954 Massey Ferguson TO-30 tractor, gray in color except for the rear rims.  There are new tires that are beige in color.  A 5 foot rotary mower (bush hog) was connected to the rear of the machine.  Attached are two pictures of tractors that are very similar to that which was stolen. 

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the tractor or the location of Joseph Williams is asked to contact Deputy C. D. Lyons at 304-357-0169.

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Corporal B. D. Humphreys

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office

301 Virginia Street East,

Charleston WV 25301

304-357-0732 / 304-951-7328

On May 1, 2013 at approximately 8:08 a.m. Sergeant J. H. Thaxton of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office received an alarm through his license plate reader that a stolen vehicle had just passed.  He was in the Davis Creek area of U.S. 119.  The stolen vehicle was traveling north on U.S. 119.  Sergeant Thaxton had been on a traffic stop when the alarm sounded.  He caught up with and stopped the vehicle at MacCorkle Avenue in Charleston. 

The license plate reader is a system of cameras and a computer that constantly scans for license plates within view.  It is mounted to Sergeant Thaxton’s vehicle.  As it reads license plates it checks national and local databases for stolen and wanted records. 

The vehicle was a 2007 Honda Accord stolen from Charleston on April 30, 2013.  The driver, Ashley Nichole Wilkinson (24 years old of Cross Lanes) was driving.  The front passenger was Phillip Lane Daughtery, Jr. (39 years old, of Suwanee, GA), and Anthony Ross Harmon (25 years old of Charleston) was also in the vehicle.  The vehicle was stolen from Harmon’s grandmother. 

Sergeant Thaxton charged Wilkinson and Harmon with possession of a stolen vehicle, a felony.  Daughtery was charged with joyriding, a misdemeanor.  The Charleston Police Department is continuing the investigation into the stolen vehicle.

Attached are the mug shots of the three arrested subjects.  As is always the case in criminal matters, the charges against the subjects are merely accusations.  They are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

–

Corporal B. D. Humphreys

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office

301 Virginia Street East,

Charleston WV 25301

304-357-0732 / 304-951-7328

On May 2, 2013 Corporal M. P. Knapp of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office charged Michael Hardway with breaking and entering the concession stand at Pinch Elementary School.  The crime occurred on April 29, 2013, during the early morning hours.  Mr. Hardway is accused of stealing food items and an envelope containing cash.

He has been questioned about similar break-ins in the area, including other concession stands.  The investigation into those crimes is on-going. 

Mr. Hardway was reported as a suspicious person on April 30, 2013, carrying a rifle as he walked along a road in the Pinch area.  He was located and questioned at that time.  Deputies Howery and Cowan of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office discovered active warrants for Mr. Hardway’s arrest as they spoke with him.  He was arrested on the outstanding warrants for transferring and receiving stolen property and destruction of property, both misdemeanors. 

We ask anyone with information about the concession stand break-ins in Pinch to please call Detective M. P. Knapp at 304-357-0556, or submit an anonymous tip through our website at www.kanawhasheriff.us.

As is always the case in criminal matters, the charges against Mr. Hardway are merely accusations.  He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  Attached is a mug shot of Hardway from his April 30, 2013 arrest.

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Corporal B. D. Humphreys

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office

301 Virginia Street East,

Charleston WV 25301

304-357-0732 / 304-951-7328

On May 2, 2013 Detective M. P. Knapp of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office arrested Rickey Allen Bright, Jr. (37 years of age, of Clendenin, WV) for two counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian, or person in a position of trust.  The charges are felonies and carry possible penalties of not less than 10, nor more than 20 years imprisonment.

The charges are for abuse of one male family member and one female family member of Mr. Bright.  The criminal investigation began after Child Protective Services were notified of the allegations.

Mr. Bright was arraigned by Magistrate Joe Shelton, who set a bond of $50,000.00 cash.  A mug shot from his arrest is attached.  As is always the case in criminal matters, the charges against Mr. Bright are merely accusations.  He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

–

Corporal B. D. Humphreys

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office

301 Virginia Street East,

Charleston WV 25301

304-357-0732 / 304-951-7328

On May 14, 2013, just before 10:00 p.m., Captain J. S. Bailes was patrolling Raven Drive in Rand when he saw a man walking.  The man was later identified as Chaten Samuel Nelson (35 years old of Starling Drive, Rand).  As Captain Bailes saw Mr. Nelson, Mr. Nelson reached around his shoulder and grabbed a sword handle.  Mr. Nelson had a samurai sword in a sheath strapped to his back.  The sword was approximately four feet in length. 

Captain Bailes stopped and observed Mr. Nelson turn toward him in a fighting stance.  As Captain Bailes approached Mr. Nelson withdrew the sword and began walking towards the Captain.  Captain Bailes drew his pistol and ordered Mr. Nelson to put down the sword and sheath, which he did after being repeatedly so ordered.  Mr. Nelson was then arrested.  His behavior was consistent with one under the influence of a controlled substance.

A post-arrest search uncovered several edged weapons including a straight razor.  Nelson also possessed several prescription drug pills for which he had no valid prescription.  He was taken to Kanawha County Magistrate Court for arraignment on charges of brandishing a deadly weapon and simple possession.

Attached is a copy of Mr. Nelson’s mug shot from the arrest and a photograph of the sword and items taken from Mr. Nelson’s person after he was arrested.  As with all criminal arrests, the charges against Mr. Nelson are merely accusations.  He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

–

Corporal B. D. Humphreys

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office

301 Virginia Street East,

Charleston WV 25301

304-357-0732 / 304-951-7328

In the early morning hours of May 16, 2013 Deputy P. D. Hodge and Sergeant R. D. Mathis of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office were patrolling in the Marmet area of Kanawha County.  They witnessed a traffic violation and initiated a traffic stop on a Ford Expedition.  The male driver was Eugene J. Lobaugh, 27 years of age of Cleveland, Ohio.  His girlfriend was also in the vehicle. 

Deputy Hodge used his K-9, Jill, to sniff along the exterior of the vehicle.  Jill alerted in several areas around the SUV.  The occupants were then asked to exit and a search of the vehicle began.  Sergeant Mathis located more than two pounds of marijuana, 291 Oxycodone 30 mg tablets.  Together the drugs have an estimated street value of $20,860.00.  Additionally, $6,312.00 cash was located in the vehicle.

Mr. Lobaugh was arrested and charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, both felonies.  He was taken to South Central Regional Jail to be held until he is arraigned through Kanawha County Magistrate Court. 

Attached is a copy of his mug shot from this morning’s arrest.  As is the case in all criminal arrests, the charges against Mr. Lobaugh are merely accusations.  He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

–

Corporal B. D. Humphreys

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office

301 Virginia Street East,

Charleston WV 25301

304-357-0732 / 304-951-7328

On Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. the Kanawha County Drug Court will be conducting a graduation ceremony for six clients who have completed the program.  The ceremony will be held in the historic Court Room #4 at the Kanawha County Courthouse.  Interviews with those managing and enrolled in the program can be arranged following the ceremony.

Kanawha County’s Drug Court is headed by Judge Jennifer Bailey, and is staffed by members of the Public Defender’s Office, Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Adult Probation, and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office’s Day Report, Home Confinement, and Law Enforcement Divisions.  It was established to enhance public safety while reducing crime and related convictions through judicially supervised substance abuse treatment, rehabilitation, and monitoring.

The Kanawha County Drug Court has had 44 graduates since opening in July 2009.  Of those 44, only six have reoffended, placing Kanawha County’s recidivism rate at 13.63%, far below the national average recidivism rate of 27.5%*.  The program has had 174 people enrolled, and has saved $2,618,097 through jail cost reductions alone (July 2009 through April 30, 2013).

More information on the Drug Court can be obtained on the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office’s webpage.

* http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/ondcp/Fact_Sheets/drug_courts_fact_sheet_5-31-11.pdf

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Corporal B. D. Humphreys

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office

301 Virginia Street East,

Charleston WV 25301

304-357-0732 / 304-951-7328

On May 27, 2013 a counterfeit twenty dollar bill was found at the Papa John’s pizza store in Saint Albans, WV.  The bill was found as part of a delivery driver’s collected money.  The Saint Albans Police Department was called and began an investigation.  Among the addresses to which the driver had delivered pizza was Nick Hanson’s residence on West Main Street, near Saint Albans.  Mr. Hanson was on home confinement for burglary, non-aggravated robbery, and wanton endangerment.  His home confinement officer, M. Hammack, visited Mr. Hanson and conducted a search of his person.  Counterfeit bills were located, including one with the same serial number as that passed to the Papa John’s delivery driver.

A search warrant was obtained and executed on June 4, 2013.  The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office’s digital forensics investigator, Detective J. Burns, became the primary investigator.  He was assisted by other detectives from the KCSO and members of the Saint Albans Police Department.  In addition to several other items seized pursuant to the search warrant, Detective Burns located and seized a printer/scanner/copier hidden beneath the mobile home residence. 

Mr. Hanson was charged with counterfeiting.  He was arrested, processed, and arraigned.  At arraignment his bail was set at $5,000.00 cash.  No one posted his bail and he was taken to South Central Regional Jail.  The investigation now involves the Saint Albans Police Department, the United States Secret Service, and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office.  Additional incidents of uttering counterfeit bills are being investigated, and additional charges may follow.

As is always the case in criminal matters, the charges against Mr. Hanson are merely accusations.  He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  Attached is a copy of the criminal complaint against Hanson (I have experienced some technical problems with the pdf printer I’ve used, and have attached the document in .xps format, which should open through internet explorer for most users). 

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Corporal B. D. Humphreys

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office

301 Virginia Street East,

Charleston WV 25301

304-357-0732 / 304-951-7328

On June 6, 2013, Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested Steven Randolph (25 years old of Lincoln County and the Elkview area of Kanawha County) for the May 20, 2013 murder of David Lemons.  Mr. Lemons was found dead in his residence at 7 Darlington Lane, near Elkview, WV, on May 20, 2013 at approximately 1:30 p.m.  

When detectives arrived at the scene they located David Lemons deceased on the living room floor of his residence.  A suspected blood drip trail was observed outside of his residence.  The autopsy performed by the Office of the West Virginia Chief Medical Examiner determined Lemons’ cause of death was a result of multiple blunt and sharp force injuries.

Several witnesses interviewed indicated Steven Randolph and his wife, Joanna Paige Randolph, were present at David Lemons’ residence the night before his death was discovered.  The witnesses said the couple planned to spend the night there.  Video surveillance footage from a passing school bus was reviewed and showed what appeared to be the Randolph’s vehicle parked at Lemons’ residence at 7:36 a.m. on May 20.  When their vehicle was later found and searched presumptive tests indicated blood was present on clothing items, seats, and other surfaces. 

By June 6 detectives had examined a great deal of evidence and interviewed many witnesses.  The Office of the Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney was consulted and an arrest warrant was sought charging Steven Randolph with first degree murder.  Detectives located Mr. Randolph that afternoon and arrested him.  He was booked at Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters, then taken to Kanawha County Magistrate Court for arraignment before Magistrate Harshbarger.  Mr. Randolph was then taken to South Central Regional Jail.

Detectives are still looking for additional information about the murder, and ask anyone with information to call 304-357-0560 to speak with Detective A. R. Crawford.  Tips can be submitted anonymously through our website at http://www.kanawhasheriff.us, or emailed directly to Detective Crawford at adamcrawford@kcso.us. 

Attached is a copy of the criminal complaint referenced above charging Mr. Randolph with murder, which is on file at Kanawha County Magistrate Court.  Also attached is his mug shot from today’s arrest.

As is always the case with criminal matters, the charges against Mr. Randolph are merely accusations.  He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

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Corporal B. D. Humphreys

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office

301 Virginia Street East,

Charleston WV 25301

304-357-0732 / 304-951-7328

On June 15, 2013 at approximately 8:35 hours Metro 911 received a call of a person on the ground near a dumpster along John Wesley Drive in the Mink Shoals area of Kanawha County.  Deputies and medical first responders from the Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority responded within moments and found the 26 year old man dead.  He was shot numerous times. 

The responding deputies secured the area, and detectives with the Kanawha Bureau of Investigation began processing the crime scene, gathering evidence, and interviewing potential witnesses.  Some neighbors reported hearing noises similar to gunshots or firecrackers in the early morning hours.  However, no calls were placed to Metro 911.

The victim’s name will not be released until notification is made to his family.  Detectives request anyone with information about the murder call them at 304-357-0169 or submit anonymous tips online through our website at www.kanawhasheriff.us. 

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Corporal B. D. Humphreys

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office

301 Virginia Street East,

Charleston WV 25301

304-357-0732 / 304-951-7328