Pocahontas County Grand Jury Hands Down 39 Indictments Following April Session

Marlinton, WV – The Pocahontas County Grand Jury has returned 39 indictments against 14 individuals following the April session. Some of the most egregious charges are against former Pocahontas County Sheriff’s deputy, Lt. Bradley C. Totten, of Hillsboro, WV. He is charged with 12 counts, all felonies, all related to sexual abuse of 5 individuals, four of them under the age of sixteen at the time of the alleged crimes. He is charged with three counts of sexual assault in the 3rd degree, five counts of sexual abuse by Parent, Guardian or Custodian, one count of attempted sexual abuse in the 1st degree, one count of sexual abuse in the first degree, one count of sexual assault in the 2nd degree, and one count of sexual intercourse with an incarcerated person while working as a Deputy Sheriff.

Pocahontas County Prosecuting Attorney Donna M. Price says she initiated the investigation after three victims came forward alleging that Lt. Totten had engaged in inappropriate actions while a member of the Pocahontas County Sheriff’s department and/or while working as dispatcher for the county. Lt. R.J. Simon of the West Virginia State Police conducted the investigation. On the advice of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Institute, Price recused her office from the case. Special Prosecutor Brian Parsons, from Fayette County, is overseeing this prosecution. As of press time, Totten is still at large, rumored to be out of the state.

Steven L. Adkinson, of Buckeye, is charged with two felony counts of Delivery of Controlled Substance, Hydrocodone, Alprazolam or Xanax, and Hydrocodene.

William Warren McLaughlin, II, of Marlinton, is charged with one felony count of Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Roxicodone.

Christina Taylor, of Cass, is charged with two felony counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance, both counts for Roxicodone.

Travis L. Loudermilk, of Hillsboro, is charged with one felony count of Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Roxicodone.

Luca J. Byrd, of Marlinton, is charged with three felony counts, for Breaking and Entering, Burglary and Grand Larceny, and one misdemeanor count of Petit Larceny. Byrd is accused of breaking into and stealing from the McClintic library in Marlinton, and from a private residence in Arbovale.

Shane E. Currence, of Valley Bend, and Gary Tacy are each charged with one felony count of Grand Larceny. They are accused of stealing copper wire, brass fittings and other equipment from private businesses in the county.

Phillip A. Moyers, of Huttonsville, is charged with four felony counts. Count I is for Failure to Provide Support to a Minor for failing to pay his court ordered child support since July 31st of 2008. Count II is for Grand Larceny in the alleged theft of coins, jewelry and other items from Melissa Riffe. Count III is for allegedly transferring those Stolen Goods to a pawn broker. Count IV is for assisting another in the theft of the items from Riffe.

Steven Moore, of Marlinton, is charged with three felony counts. Count I is for Delivery of Controlled Substance, Count II is for Possession with/Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance and Count III is for Conspiracy to Commit a Felony. All three charges are related to Cocaine.

Karen Cutlip, of Marlinton, is charged with two felony counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Morphine.

Bryan Blechl, of Green Bank, is charged with one felony count of Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Roxicodone.

George T. Underwood, of Marlinton, is charged with one felony count of DUI, 3rd or subsequent offense, and two misdemeanor counts. One is for Bypassing Alcohol Test and Lock Program, or in other words, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The other is for Refusing to Submit to a Preliminary Analysis of Breath.

John A. Wolfe, of Marlinton, is charged with two felony counts, one For Breaking and Entering, the other for Grand Larceny. Wolfe is accused of breaking into the Route 66 Outpost store and stealing several digital video cameras.

Please note that a grand jury indictment only means that enough evidence has been presented to proceed to trial. All individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.