NEW CUMBERLAND — A former sheriff’s deputy allegedly caught with hundreds of sexually explicit images of children on his computer and a Weirton man charged with murdering his wife a year ago in Weirton are among the 20 people indicted this week by a Hancock County grand jury.

Former Hancock County Deputy Sheriff Patrick J. Hoder, 305 Blossom Ave., Newell, was ordered to stand trial for allegedly possessing material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Hoder, 56, was taken into custody in late August after more than 600 pornographic images and videos of children were allegedly found on one of his devices.

Hoder had been a K-9 handler for Hancock County and also oversaw some of the department’s community outreach programs. Sheriff Scott Gittings had put him on administrative leave when he learned of the investigation and terminated his employment when he was indicted on Aug. 30.

To avoid any conflict of interest, Hancock County Prosecutor Steven Dragisich recused himself from the case, which was investigated by the West Virginia State Police and presented to Hancock County’s grand jurors by Special Prosecutor Gail Kahle, an assistant prosecutor from Ohio County.

Also facing trial is Mark Erwin Dennis, 109 Deya St., Weirton, charged with killing his wife in their home on April 16, 2024.

Dennis, 72, allegedly used a hammer and knives to kill his wife, Linda, who taught for more than 35 years in Hancock County Schools – most of them in the kindergarten at Liberty Elementary.

True bills also were returned charging:

*David Nelson Allen, 57, 3132 West St., Apt. 4-R, Weirton, malicious assault and removal, injury to or destruction of property. Allen allegedly walked into a downtown gas station and stabbed a man seated at the counter in his lower back.

*Jason Daniel Strum, 462 Finance Road, Weirton, nine counts of wanton endangerment involving a firearm. Strum, 48, allegedly fired nine shots outside his parents’ bedroom door. They were not injured.

*Lorray Elizabeth Owens, 139 Preston Ave., Weirton, three counts of third offense driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, and gross neglect of a child creating substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.

Owens, 30, had been in treatment after a May 2023 DUI, authorities said, but allegedly was found driving under the influence in January and again in February, and on one of those occasions had a child in the vehicle.

*Regis Francis Donahue, 38, 259 Wayne Ave., Weirton, child abuse resulting in bodily injury.

*Bryan Douglass Barr, 21, 3006 Elm St., Weirton, wanton endangerment involving a firearm.

*Named in separate four-count indictments alleging possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver, conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to deliver, possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, and conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to deliver were Jason Christopher Darby, 43, 234 Gardner Ave., Weirton; Martas Daylone Tyree Cromwell Robinson, 53, Baltimore, Md.; William Zimmerman III, 45, 200 Murphy Ave., Steubenville, and Heather Danielle Smith, 40, 307 Union Ave., Steubenville. All four were taken into custody at the same Weirton home, authorities said.

*Named in separate indictments charging them with possession of fentanyl with intent to deliver, conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to deliver and four counts of delivery of fentanyl were Nicholas John Keller, 32, 319 Harrison St., Newell; Zachary James Strub, 31, 16357 Irish Ridge Rd., East Liverpool; and Knight C.B. Salvers, 36, 423 Coolidge St., Apt. A, Newell. Authorities say the three were at the same Newell location when they were taken into custody.

*William Sanford Fetty, 37, 187 Patriot Lane, Weirton, burglary, entry of a dwelling or outbuilding.

*Jim G. Kadin, 64, 2006 Allison Road, Chester, five counts of failing to register as a sex offender (lifetime registration).

*Zackary Shane Tice, 31, 1711 Cleveland Ave., East Liverpool, possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of stolen goods.

*Gage Austin Bolton, 30, 221 Washington St., Newell, and his uncle, Gregory Allen Bolton, 46, 208 Adams St., Newell, were named in separate indictments charging them with two counts alleging entry of a building other than a dwelling and conspiracy.

*Tyler Jay Johnson, 39, 2705 Pennsylvania Ave., Weirton, fleeing law enforcement with reckless indifference, reckless driving and fleeing law enforcement on foot.

A superseding indictment also was returned against Jessica Cremeans, 39, 60 Doberman Dr., Chester, 55 counts of embezzling from her employer, Smith Oil. The new indictment details 55 instances in which Cremeans, 39, arranged payments to herself involving $1,000 or more of her employer’s money. The original indictment had been returned in January.