$1M BOND SENDS MESSAGE OF COURT'S STANCE ON DRUGS

WILLIAMSON -- "We have declared war on drug dealers and no case will
be too small for our attention," Mingo County Prosecuting Attorney C.
Michael Sparks said in the wake of the Grand Jury's return of a
record-setting 69 felony drug indictments.

Fifty-nine of the felony drug indictments returned to Chief Circuit
Judge Michael Thornsbury Thursday were sealed and suspects have yet
to be taken into custody for arraignment on felony drug charges.

Besides those true bills, 10 other felony drug indictments are among
22 unsealed indictments contained in the grand jury's report.

Thornsbury set bonds, trial dates and conditions of bonds during
Thursday's arraignment of the defendants named in the unsealed
indictments. All of those arraigned pleaded "not guilty" to the
charges against them.

Mingo Prosecutor Sparks and Assistant Prosecutor Teresa D. Maynard
represented the state in the various proceedings.

Only two defendants from Varney, W.Va., posted bonds by
mid-afternoon, Chief Deputy Circuit Clerk Camilla Ellis reported.

[redacted] each posted $40,000 bond in connection with their similar
indictments on one count each of delivering a Schedule III controlled
substance (Hydrocodone) and conspiracy with each other to deliver
Hydrocodone to a confidential informant on March 3, 2008.

[redacted] is represented by Ronald J. Rumora and [redacted]'s
counsel is Diana Carter Wiedel. The trials of both defendants are set
for March 31, 2009. Thornsbury attached conditions to the bonds, such
as electronic home confinement, weekly random drug testing and
release for work only. [redacted] could be released for the Judge's
work program.

The highest bond set by Thornsbury was $1 million (full cash) in the
case of [redacted]. She is charged with two counts of distributing
Schedule II controlled substances, Cocaine and Oxycodone, within
1,000 feet of a school, and with possession of those two controlled
substances with intent to deliver.

[redacted]'s trial is set for Feb. 24, 2009. Meanwhile, the judge
ordered her remanded to Southwestern Regional Jail with electronic
home confinement and weekly random drug testing as conditions if bond
is posted. She is represented by Chris Younger.

Other indictments, trial dates, bonds, and attorneys are as follows:

[redacted] trial set Feb. 24, 2009 on two counts each of burglary and
conspiracy to commit burglary, and one count each of grand larceny
and conspiracy. Thornsbury ordered her held without bond and directed
that she be remanded to South-western Regional Jail until a bond is
posted. Conditions of bond were set and she is represented by Wiedel.

[redacted], requested a psychological examination before he is
arraigned and the court granted the request. He is represented by
Ronald J. Rumora.

[redacted], is set for trial Feb. 24 on one charge each of grand
larceny and conspiracy to commit grand larceny. His bond was set at
$50,000 with conditions of home confinement and weekly random drug
testing. He was remanded to the regional jail until such time bond is
posted. Jerry Lyall is his attorney.

[redacted], was given a March 3 trial date and his bond was set at
$50,000 with conditions of electric home confinement and weekly
random drug testing. David Foley is his attorney. He is charged with
one count each of grand larceny and conspiracy.

[redacted], is scheduled for trial Feb. 24 and a bond of $50,000 was
set with conditions. He is charged with one count each of grand
larceny and conspiracy to commit grand larceny. He is represented by
Kathy Cisco-Sturgell.

[redacted], has a trial date of Feb. 9 in connection with one charge
each of grand larceny and conspiracy to commit grand larceny. His
bond was set at $36,000 with various conditions, and he was remanded
to the regional jail until such time a bond is posted. Jonathan
Jewell is his attorney.

[redacted], failed to appear for arraignment and an Adult Capias was
ordered by Judge Thorns-bury for his arrest. He was indicted on a
charge of second degree robbery.

[redacted], is represented by Steven Knopp in connection with his
indictment on one charge each of burglary, destruction of property
and manufacture of a Schedule I controlled substance (Marijuana). He
is scheduled for trial on March 17 and was remanded to jail in lieu
of $40,000 bond which was set with the usual conditions of home
confinement and drug testing.

[redacted], is charged with one count each of entry of a building
other than a dwelling, grand larceny and conspiracy to commit grand
larceny. Stacy Bowens represents the defendant, who is set for trial
March 3. His bond was set at $75,000 with various conditions.

[redacted], is scheduled for trial Feb. 24 on charges of entry of a
building other than a dwelling, grand larceny and conspiracy. His
bond was set at $65,000 with conditions and he was remanded to jail
pending posting of bond. Jerry Lyall is his attorney.

[redacted], did not appear for arraignment and the court issued an
Adult Capias for his arrest. He is charged with entering a building
other than a dwelling, grand larceny and conspiracy.

[redacted], was given a trial date of March 10 and her bond was set
at $50,000 with the usual conditions. She is charged with grand
larceny and conspiracy to commit grand larceny and is represented by
Diana C. Wiedel.

[redacted], is represented by Jerry Lyall in connection with one
charge of distribution of Marijuana and Hydrocodone within 1,000 feet
of a school. He is set for trial on March 10 and was remanded to jail
in lieu of $65,000 bond set with conditions.

[redacted], was indicted on three counts of delivery of Schedule I,
II and III controlled substances (Oxycodone, Heroin and Hydrocodone).
Her bond was set at $80,000 with conditions and she was to be
remanded to jail pending posting of bond. Her trial date is March 24
and Ronald J. Rumora is her attorney.

[redacted], is represented by Lyall in connection with his indictment
on three counts of delivering Marijuana and one count of possession
of Marijuana with intent to deliver. The court set his trial for Feb.
24 and his bond at $75,000 with conditions.

[redacted], is charged with one count each of delivering controlled
substances (Hyrocodone and Phenter-mine). Susan Van Zant represents
the defendant, who was remanded to the regional jail without bond being set.

[redacted], is set for trial March 31 on one count each of delivering
a Schedule III controlled substance and conspiracy to deliver that
drug, identified as Hydrocodone. His bond was set at $40,000 with
conditions and he is represented by Rob Kuenzel of Logan.

[redacted], is represented by Susan Van Zant in connection with two
counts of delivery of Hydrocodone and one count of conspiracy to
deliver that Schedule III controlled substance. The court set bond at
$75,000 with conditions and his trial will be on March 10.

[redacted], is scheduled for trial March 31 and was ordered to the
regional jail without bond. He is charged with distributing a
Schedule II controlled substance (Cocaine) within 1,000 feet of a
school, and with possession of Cocaine with intent to deliver. Chris
Younger is his legal counsel.