By Stephen Smoot
Grand jury indictments for March were released last week. Indictment means that the grand jury says that the prosecution has sufficient evidence for a case to go to trial. Indicted offenders still enjoy a presumption of innocence under the law until a jury renders a verdict or the offender pleads guilty.
Tony Dean Arbaugh Jr. was indicted on four counts of failure to register as a sexual offender. In the first count, he “On, or about January 27, 2023 . . . did knowingly fail to register and did knowingly fail to provide or cooperate in providing the registrant’s Facebook account . . . having previously been convicted of a qualifying offense involving a minor . . . against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
On the second count, Arbaugh “did knowingly fail to register and did knowingly refuse to provide or cooperate in providing the registrant’s email account, spankk.thejailbirdd@gmail.com, used by the registrant, having previously been convicted of a qualifying offense involving a minor . . . against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
On the third count, Arbaugh “did knowingly fail to register and did knowingly refuse to provide or cooperate in providing the registrant’s home phone number . . . against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
On the fourth count, Arbaugh “did knowingly fail to register and did knowingly refuse to provide or cooperate in providing the registrant’s cell phone number . . . against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
Jonmichael Eugene Michael was indicted on one count of “sexual intercourse and sexual intrusion with another person, to wit: E.S., a minor, without that person’s consent and the lack of consent resulted from forcible compulsion, against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.
The same individual also plead guilty in Hardy County to multiple felonies, including attempted murder, wanton endangerment, malicious assault on a law enforcement officer, and more in connection to his alleged shooting of Sgt. Tyler Robinette of the Moorefield Police Department. He shall receive sentencing on April 18 for his crimes.
Richard Avery Hensley was indicted on six counts of “wanton endangerment involving a firearm . . . which created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury . . . against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.” Each count referred to a threat to the safety of an individual. These included Stephanie M. Hensley, Willie A. Furr, Jr, Dennis L. Reilly, and three minor children.
Ronald Warren Griest was indicted on three felonies and four misdemeanors. In the first count, a felony, he is accused of breaking into “the storage unit of Tracy Moats and Liti Barrow . . . and did steal, take, and carry away an electric fireplace belonging to Tracy Moats and having a total value of $399 against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.
The second count referred to the same electric fireplace, but on a misdemeanor count.
The third count, a felony, referred to “a spice rack, white ceramic canisters, and a Farberware knife set, belonging to Jenny Ruddle, and having a total value of $187.98 against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
The fourth count was a misdemeanor count related to the objects listed in the third count.
The fifth count, a felony, referred to theft of a “gas-powered remote control car with small toolbox and parts, belonging to John Simmons, and having a total value of $700, against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
Count six was a misdemeanor related to the objects listed in the fifth.
Count seven alleges that Griest “did unlawfully possess a stolen DeWalt tool set, having a total value of approximately $300 which he knew, or had reason to believe, was stolen, and did so with a dishonest purpose and with the intent to permanently deprive the owner therefor, against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.”
