DRUG CASES WORRY PUTNAM PROSECUTOR

Sorsaia Says Many Recent Indictments Linked To Drugs

Friday July 13, 2001; 11:00 AM A Putnam County slaying this week and
another four months ago, each involving 22-year-old suspects, have grabbed
the headlines.

But Prosecutor Mark Sorsaia sees another alarming trend highlighted in the
indictments issued Wednesday by a county grand jury -- 11 of the 23
individuals indicted were charged with drug offenses.

The grand jury indicted Ronnie W. Worley, now 23, for first-degree murder
in the April 8 brutal beating death of Joyce "Joy" T. Wroczyski at her
Scott Depot home. Worley, a resident of the same subdivision, also was
indicted for nighttime burglary.

Another recent slaying has drawn a lot of attention. Dolores Bates, 64, was
killed Sunday at her Hurricane Creek home. Jonathan Tillman of Virginia has
been arrested in her death, but has not been indicted.

In the indictments, however, alleged drug offenses comprise the majority of
the charges. A number of the incidents allegedly involved out-of-county
dealers selling crack cocaine, methamphetamine and even heroin, a trend
that alarms Sorsaia.

"Historically in Putnam County, we had a lot of cases where local people
grow marijuana and give it to their friends or local people are dealing
among themselves. The new dynamic is people from out of the county --
professional drug dealers with more serious drugs," he said.

"This is the kind of activity that breeds violence."

While the two recent slayings have not been linked to drug use, it has been
a factor in recent aggravated robberies and home invasions, he said.

"We've got to assess what is going on here and if there is anything we can
do to try to stop it," he said.

Those indicted on drug-related charges were:

Reginald A. Cain, 50, of Dunbar, two counts of delivery of a controlled
substance.

Kevin Clark of Washington, D.C., two counts of delivery of a controlled
substance and two counts of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance.

Maurice Green, address and age unavailable, four counts of delivery of a
controlled substance and two counts of conspiracy to deliver a controlled
substance.

Timothy W. Higginbotham, 20, of Buffalo, two counts of delivery of a
controlled substance.

Maurice A. Jarrett, 25, of Institute, delivery of a controlled substance.

Daniel J. Kincaid, 51, of Charleston, two counts of delivery of a
controlled substance.

Jackson L. McCormick, 31, of Red House, four counts of delivery of a
controlled substance.

Samuel O. Rutledge, 30, of South Charleston, obtaining a controlled
substance by misrepresentation and attempting to obtain a controlled
substance by misrepresentation.

Ronnie A. Saul, 44, of Poca, manufacturing a controlled substance.

Gary W. Wartenburg, 44, of St. Albans, two counts of delivery of a
controlled substance.

Casey T. Wymer, 20, of Scott Depot, delivery of a controlled substance.

Others who were indicted and the charges are:

Bradford B. Bailey III, 18, of Red Hose, grand larceny.

Brandie M. Clendenen, 19, of Point Pleasant, four counts of forgery and
four counts of uttering a forged writing.

Harold J. D'Angelo, 33, of St. Albans, four counts of forgery and four
counts of uttering a forged writing.

Joseph W. Davis, 24, of Milton, grand larceny and second-offense driving on
a revoked license, DUI related.

Michael E. Johnson, 31, of St. Albans, embezzlement.

Wyatt L. Lucas II, 40, of Big Chimney, grand larceny.

Susan D. Painter, 21, of Leon, entering without breaking, petit larceny,
forgery, uttering, obtaining money by false pretense and identity theft.
Brian A. Robinson, 28, of Red House, child abuse resulting in bodily injury.

Robin M. Ward, 21, of St. Albans, eight counts of forgery, seven counts of
uttering a forged writing and two counts of conspiracy to commit uttering.

Lee Ann Williams, 46, of Rand, embezzlement.

Charles M. Wyckoff, 61, of Nitro, third-offense driving under the influence
of alcohol and second-offense driving on a revoked license.