Pocahontas Grand Jury returns 16 felony counts against 7 individuals following August 2015 session

The Pocahontas County Grand Jury met Tuesday, August 4th and returned 16 total felony counts against 7 individuals. The following indictments were presented before Judge James J. Rowe and will be arraigned on Friday, August 7th, 2015 at 9am.

James Richard Cassell is charged with three felony counts of delivering controlled substances to a confidential informant in June of 2014. Two counts of delivery of a controlled non-narcotic substance, specifically marijuana, and one count of delivery of a controlled narcotic substance, Oxycodone.

Nathan Scott Poland is charged with four felony counts involving controlled substances. He is charged with one count of delivery of a non-narcotic controlled substance, methylenedioxyamphetamine, also known as MDA, to a confidential informant in March of 2015. He is also charged with three counts of possession with intent to deliver MDA, Ketamine, often used as an animal anesthetic, and Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, or LSD.

Jesse Lee Blake is charged with two felony counts – one for Nightime Burglary, and the other for Grand Larceny, allegedly committed in April of 2015. He is charged with breaking in and stealing sports and outdoor equipment from a Dry Branch home in Pocahontas County with a total value of $2,236.00.

The following indictments were presented before Judge Robert E. Richardson and will be arraigned on Friday, August 14th at 9:30am.

Ralph J. McLaughlin is charged with one felony count of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Third Offense. He was previously convicted of DUI in October 2009 in Bland County, VA and again in January 2010 in Botetourt County, VA.

Christopher L. Rose is charged with three felony counts – one count of sexual abuse by a custodian of a child; one count of sexual abuse in the First Degree; and one count of Attempt to commit sexual abuse in the First Degree. The charges are related to the alleged sexual abuse of a 14 year old.

Bryan Dewitt Thompson is charged with one felony count of being a prohibited person with a firearm and one felony count of wanton endangerment with a firearm. Thompson, previously convicted of felonious burglary in Pocahontas County, is charged with possession of a Walther P22 pistol. He is accused of shooting the pistol out of his bedroom window in the direction of his wife Linda Thompson; he’s also alleged to have pointed the gun at her and attempted to shoot her.

Amy Jo Brust is charged with one felony count of wanton endangerment involving a firearm. She is accused of discharging a firearm on the ground in close proximity to Ned Viars.

A grand jury indictment means that enough evidence was presented to convince the jurors to let the case proceed to trial. All individuals are considered innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.