The Pendleton County Grand Jury has released its slate of indictments. The history of grand juries in the Anglo-American system of justice dates back to the Assize of Clarendon under King Henry II. Their role lies in deciding if evidence presented is enough to warrant moving to the next step of a trial.
An indictment does not on its own indicate guilt.
The next phase of the process comes with the petit jury, unless the defendant chooses to make a plea deal and it is accepted. Twelve jurors must decide if the defendant is either guilty or not guilty. Juries do not judge innocence versus guilt. They judge whether or not the prosecution made its case according to the evidence.
The grand jury issued four indictments against Roger Odell Hoover. The first count accuses him of “Strangulation, a Felony” and states he “did unlawfully and feloniously strangle another without that person’s consent and thereby did cause the other person bodily injury or loss of consciousness . . . against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
The second count alleges “Domestic Battery, a Misdemeanor” and that he “did unlawfully and intentionally make physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature to their family or household member or did unlawfully and intentionally cause physical harm to their family or household member . . . against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
The third count alleges “Obstructing an Officer, a Misdemeanor” and states that he “did unlawfully, by threats, menaces, acts, or otherwise, forcibly or illegally hinder or obstruct . . . an law enforcement officer, probation officer, or parole officer . . . against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
The fourth county alleges “Possession of a Controlled Substance, a Misdemeanor” and states that he “did unlawfully, knowingly, and intentionally possess a controlled substance . . . Marijuana . . . against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
The grand jury indicted Brandon Parham Stewart on 27 felony counts.
Counts one through nine allege “Sexual Abuse By a Parent, Guardian, Custodian, or Person in a Position of Trust to a Child, a Felony” and states that he did “unlawfully, and feloniously” commit the act “against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
Counts 10 through 18 allege “Incest, a Felony” and states that he “did unlawfully and feloniously” commit the act “against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
Counts 19 through 27 allege “Sexual Assault in the Third Degree, a Felony” and states that he did unlawfully and feloniously” commit the act “with . . . a juvenile . . . who was at the time less than sixteen years of age . . . against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
The grand jury indicted Troy Arbaugh Jr. on four counts.
The first count alleges “Failure to Register As a Sexual Offender or Provide Notice of Registration Changes, a Felony” and states that he “did unlawfully and feloniously . . . fail to provide notice of his social media account, that being his Instagram account ‘tonyarbaugh’ within ten business days . . . having previously been convicted of Failure to Register As a Sexual Offender or Provide Notice of Registration Changes . . . against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
The second count alleges “Failure to Register As a Sexual Offender or Provide Notice of Registration Changes, a Felony” and states that he “did unlawfully and feloniously . . . fail to provide notice of his social media account, that being his Instagram account ‘arbaughtony’ within ten business days . . . having previously been convicted of Failure to Register As a Sexual Offender or Provide Notice of Registration Changes . . . against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
The third count alleges “Failure to Register As a Sexual Offender or Provide Notice of Registration Changes, a Felony” and states that he “did unlawfully and feloniously . . . fail to provide notice of his social media account, that being his Instagram account ‘tonydeanarbaugh’ within ten business days . . . having previously been convicted of Failure to Register As a Sexual Offender or Provide Notice of Registration Changes . . . against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
The fourth count alleges “Failure to Register As a Sexual Offender or Provide Notice of Registration Changes, a Felony” and states that he “did unlawfully and feloniously . . . fail to provide notice of his release from incarceration within three business days . . . having previously been convicted of Failure to Register As a Sexual Offender or Provide Notice of Registration Changes . . . against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
The grand jury approved five indictments against Kevin Glenn Thompson Sr. and Cody Lee Thompson.
The first, fourth, and fifth count allege “Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Second or Subsequent Offense” and states that they “did unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously deliver a controlled substance . . . Methamphetamine . . . against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
The second count alleges “Conspiracy, a Felony” and state that “Kevin Glenn Thompson Sr. did unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously, conspire with Cody Lee Thompson . . . to commit the offense Delivery of a Controlled Substance . . . against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
The third count alleges “Conspiracy, a Felony” and state that “Cody Lee Thompson did unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously, conspire with Kevin Glenn Thompson Sr. . . . to commit the offense Delivery of a Controlled Substance . . . against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
