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WELLSBURG -- An allegation of attempted murder and several cases involving the abuse or neglect of children were among 25 indictments returned by a Brooke County grand jury on Monday.
Dustan Phillip Sager, 39, of 392 Reeves Drive, Wellsburg, was indicted on one count of attempted murder and two counts of malicious assault.
The charges stem from a July 15 incident in which Sager allegedly stabbed a man multiple times in the head, neck and ear.
Jonathan Griffin, a local police officer, was indicted for possession and electronic access to child pornography for allegedly uploading 16 digital photos and videos of young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including a photo of them engaged in a sex act and four videos of them engaged in a sex act.
Griffin was placed on administrative leave from the Wellsburg and Follansbee police departments following his arrest in August by the West Virginia State Police.
A special prosecuting attorney from outside Brooke County has been appointed to handle the case.
David Michael Hill, 44, of 99 McKinley Lane, Wellsburg, was indicted on multiple counts of incest, second degree sexual assault and sexual abuse by a parent, guardian or custodian for alleged sexual acts committed with a minor in 2019 and 2021.
Travis M. Gladish, 38, of Pittsburgh, was indicted on four counts of sexual abuse by a custodian and two counts each of first-degree sexual abuse and third-degree sexual assault for alleged sexual contact with a minor between June 2018 and October 2019.
Curtis Shorts, 39, of Wellsburg, was indicted for third-degree sexual assault, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and three counts of sexual abuse by a custodian, for alleged sexual contact with a minor between January 2015 and November 2015.
Indicted on three counts each of child neglect creating substantial risk of serious injury were Katherine Hooker, 31, and Melvin Berry, 30, both of 2407 Main St., Wellsburg, following a police investigation that found the pair hadn’t provided adequate supervision of their three small children.
Indicted on one count of child neglect creating substantial risk of serious injury was Christopher MacGregor, 36, of 1672 McCords Hill Road, Wellsburg, following a July 14 accident in which he was driving with a young passenger without a car seat.
Also indicted were:
● Dustin W. Geary, 29, of 125 Butcher Lane, Follansbee, for kidnapping, burglary and two counts of third-offense domestic battery for allegedly transporting a woman against her will, breaking into a home and kicking the woman and slamming a male family member onto the ground.
● Gregory A. Ballato, 43, of 751 Meadowbrook Drive, Follansbee, for strangulation, domestic battery, domestic assault and unlawful restraint.
Ballato allegedly punched a woman in the face, neck and head and attempted to strangle her.
● Matthew M. Stevens, 33, of 42 Pearls Lane, Wellsburg, domestic violence, domestic assault, second-offense domestic battery, resisting arrest, battery on an officer and attempting to disarm an officer.
Stevens allegedly grabbed a woman’s face and pushed her and while struggling against an arresting officer, hit the officer with his shoulder and reached for his holster.
● Eric A. Wilt, 32, of 100 Talbott Drive, Wintersville, for domestic battery, domestic assault, grand larceny, phone harassment and two counts of battery.
Wilt allegedly bit a man and punched a woman and pulled her hair in the parking lot of a Wellsburg business before driving away in her vehicle on July 20 and made a harassing phone call to her in January.
● Todd A. Melvin, 57, of 142 Ann St., Weirton, for fraudulent schemes and grand larceny, for allegedly taking about $4,000 from a man on the pretense of using it for construction materials.
● James C. Heilman, 59, of 1029 Rice Blvd., Weirton, for three counts of wanton endangerment for allegedly firing three shots from his porch while a neighbor was in the vicinity.
● Thomas J. Goff, 35, of 20 Lindsey Ave., Wellsburg, possession of a firearm prohibited under a criminal conviction.
● Tierney C. Gilbert, 29, of Apartment 2, 401 Dresden Ave., Steubenville, second offense driving under the influence, driving while suspended, fleeing from an officer while DUI, possession of a controlled substance and open container.
● James R. Carr Jr., 50, of Rear 401 Lee Road, Follansbee, possession of a stolen vehicle.
● Dennis D. White Jr., 34, of Columbus, fleeing with reckless disregard for others and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
● Donald E. Adams, 45, of 127 North 14th St., Weirton, two counts of delivering a controlled substance.
● Tina M. McGee, 42, of 88 Casey Drive, Weirton, delivering a controlled substance and conspiring to do so.
● Mazey E. Hearn, 23, of 3825 Main St., Weirton, delivering a controlled substance and conspiring to do so.
● Vandellia M. Hearn, 39, of 1345 Cove Road, Weirton, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
● John P. Skinner, 43, of 343 Buffalo Road, Wellsburg, eight counts of failure to register as a sex offender for allegedly failing to notify the State Police when he had moved twice, obtained a driver’s license, purchased a car and established social media and e-mail accounts.
● Donald E. Stevens, 46, of 206 Franklin St., Weirton, failure to register as a sex offender for allegedly failing to notify State Police he had moved.
● Charles M. Pittman, 63, of 108 Putney Ridge Road, Colliers, two counts of failure to register as a sex offender for allegedly failing to notify State Police he had obtained an additional vehicle and his phone number had changed.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronoline.com.)