KINGWOOD — A woman accused of killing a child who was in her care was among 50 indictments returned by the Preston County Grand Jury Wednesday.
The jury met for two days and handed up indictments for a range of crimes, including selling drugs, theft, soliciting minors by computer, robbery and making terroristic threats.
Kelly Marie Tusing, 23, of Tunnelton, was indicted on a charge of death caused by parent, guardian or custodian. Prosecuting Attorney Melvin C. Snyder III said the incident happened about a year ago, but autopsy results were only recently received from the State Medical Examiner’s Office.
“Ms. Tusing claims that the child rolled off the bed onto the floor. But with the degree of injuries the child suffered on the head, that would not be consistent with it at all,” Snyder said.
Tusing was not the child’s mother, he said. Assistant Prosecutor Megan Allender is prosecuting the case.
The trend in Preston County is toward large numbers of indictments, Snyder said. Last year a total of 147 indictments were returned, and he expects more this year.
“More violent crimes, more drug crimes and also, surprisingly, we’re seeing more … financial scam type crimes,” Snyder said. For example, a couple who leased a car for two days and intentionally never brought it back. “It was a scheme from the get go,” he said.
There were fewer drug indictments this time, but those are cyclical, Snyder said, based on the progress of investigations. There are fewer burglaries and breaking and entering cases, he said.
“But we’re seeing more robberies. Malicious assaults, physical type [crimes] where somebody is attacking somebody,” Snyder said.
It is rare, for example, for Preston County to have two death cases pending. But in addition to the indictment for Tusing, still pending from last year is the case of Joseph Harrison, who is accused of killing his wife.
Drug cases are not as likely to involve opioids now, the prosecutor said. Cocaine, synthetic drugs, heroin, “high level stuff” is being seen more because it is cheaper, Snyder said.
Also indicted were:
- Rager, Tina Marie, 49, of Tunnelton — six counts of delivery of a controlled substance (meth), two counts of conspiracy.
- Shay, Stephanie Ann, 31, of Rowlesburg — two counts of delivery of a controlled substance (meth, Subutex), two counts of child neglect creating risk of injury.
- Murray, Danielle Lee, 30, of Masontown — possession with intent to deliver (cocaine), conspiracy.
- Shaffer, Kevin Ray, 56, of Kingwood — six counts of delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine), three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (cocaine), three counts of conspiracy.
- Shaffer, Wendy Lee, 53, of Kingwood — six counts of delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine), three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (cocaine), three counts of conspiracy.
- Witherspoon, Cortez Lamar, 34, of Bruceton Mills — three counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
- Collins, Charles R. Jr., 19, of Kingwood — receiving or transferring stolen goods.
- Rhodes, Duane Alan, 31, of Tunnelton — two counts of malicious assault on a police officer.
- Moats, Paul Edward Jr., 55, of Tunnelton — possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (meth), fleeing with reckless indifference.
- Hayes, Alvie Lee Jr., 34, of Independence — two counts of failure to register as a sex offender.
- Stout, Donald Carl, 70, of Tygart Valley Regional Jail — three counts of failure to register as a sex offender.
- Stout, Donald Carl, 70, of Tygart Valley Regional Jail — first-degree sexual assault, sexual abuse, two counts of child abuse resulting in injury.
- Bueno, Gilbert Bruce, 34, of Morgantown — attempted first-degree murder, kidnapping, strangulation, two counts of domestic battery, interfering with emergency communications, bond violation.
- Ridenour, James Tyler, 30, of Bruceton Mills — fraudulent scheme, conspiracy.
- Ridenour, James Tyler, 30, of Bruceton Mills — grand larceny, conspiracy.
- Ridenour, James Tyler, 30, of Bruceton Mills — fraudulent scheme, conspiracy.
- Blake, Heather Dawn, 36, of Westover — fraudulent scheme, conspiracy.
- Blake, Heather Dawn, 36, of Westover — grand larceny, conspiracy.
- Blake, Heather Dawn, 36, of Westover — fraudulent scheme, conspiracy.
- Parker, Katina Marie, no age provided, Rowlesburg — third-offense shoplifting.
- Hinds, Kristi Joylnn, 43, of Kingwood — four counts of fraudulent use of an access device.
- Stone, Randy Emmit, 37, of Tunnelton — possession of a controlled substance (meth) with intent to deliver.
- Miller, Devin Robert, 33, of Kingwood — two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (meth, Xanax).
- Moss, William Kenneth, 29, of Grafton — possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (meth), altering vehicle registration plate, false evidence or forgery of registration, forgery of official seals.
- Velone, Brandy Lynn, 32, of Tunnelton — five counts of child neglect creating risk of injury, conspiracy.
- Velone, Joseph Anthony, 35, of Tunnelton — five counts of child neglect creating risk of injury, conspiracy.
- Huellen, Christopher Michael, 35, of McKeesport, Pa. — grand larceny.
- Price, Tina, 41, of Masontown — grand larceny/fraudulent scheme, worthless check.
- Ringer, Patrick Harlan, 32, of Rowlesburg — two counts failure to register as a sex offender.
- Moats, Robert Lee, 29, of Kingwood — nine counts of soliciting a minor by computer, two counts of using obscene matter to seduce a minor.
- Miller, Kevin Monroe II, 29, of Huttonsville — receiving or transferring stolen goods, destruction of property, convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
- Clary, Dwight Howard, 41, of St. Mary’s Correctional Center — first-degree robbery, two counts of grand larceny, malicious assault, kidnapping, five counts of conspiracy.
- Cartwright, Scott Allen, 39, of Tygart Valley Regional Jail — first-degree robbery, two counts grand larceny, malicious assault, kidnapping, five counts of conspiracy.
- Dinges, Haley Nicole, 36, of Tygart Valley Regional Jail — first-degree robbery, two counts grand larceny, malicious assault, kidnapping, five counts of conspiracy.
- Bishop, Paden Andrew, 18, of Kingwood — two counts breaking and entering, two counts of grand larceny, four counts of conspiracy.
- Arnett, Trevor Lee, 18, of Kingwood — two counts breaking and entering, two counts grand larceny, four counts conspiracy.
- Wasco, George W. Jr., 37, of Masontown — malicious assault, strangulation.
- Rhodes, Pamela Renee, 51, of Tunnelton — two counts of threats of terroristic acts.
- Johnston, Nathan John, 34, of Bruceton Mills — failure to register as a sex offender.
- Metheny, Jeffrey Grant, 41, of St. Mary’s Correctional Facility — first-degree robbery.
- Waybright, Steven Keith, 25, of Reedsville — third-offense domestic battery.
- Waybright, Steven Keith, 25, of Reedsville — fleeing with reckless indifference, destruction of property.
- Goff, John Eugene II, 34, of Rowlesburg — malicious assault.
- Fullmer, Jackie De, 38, of Tunnelton — burglary, grand larceny.
- Rager, Ronald Eugene III, 30, of Masontown — receiving or transferring stolen goods.
- Johnson, Bryant Logan, 29, of Albright — third-offense DUI.
- Jones, Jeffrey Wayne, 32, of Oakland, Md. — fleeing with reckless indifference.
- Roberts, Sarah Ann, 41, of Terra Alta — grand larceny by fraudulent scheme, fraudulent use of access device.
- Tharp, Terrence E. Jr., 44, of Waynesburg, Pa. — wrongfully seeking Worker’s Compensation, false documentation.
Story by Kathy Plum