Shawn Turak, Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney, released the following statements: Recent Ohio County Convictions Brooke Dulaney appeared before the Honorable Michael Olejasz on July 2, 2026, for Sentencing.  She was convicted of the felony offense of “Driving a Vehicle in an Impaired State Causing Serious Bodily Injury to Another” on May 13, 2026.  The crash occurred on July 25, 2025, when Dulaney was driving her Jaguar SUV on Interstate 70 westbound near Main Street, Wheeling. In the crash, Dulaney lost control, the car went airborne before coming to its final resting point near Main Street.  A passenger was ejected from the sunroof in the crash and was rushed to Wheeling Hospital where she underwent surgery and was in intensive care. The investigation conducted by the City of Wheeling Police Department revealed that Dulaney was travelling at a speed of 116 miles per hour before she lost control. Blood alcohol testing revealed that her BAC was .176, more than twice the threshold for impaired driving. Dulaney was sentenced to not less than two nor more than ten years by Judge Olejasz on July 2, 2026, and given a self-report date in August. Shawn Turak, Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney, commended the police investigation handled by City of Wheeling Police Department.  “I am pleased with the results in this case. That a crime of this significance was so efficiently prosecuted within less than a year and with the maximum prison sentence being imposed is a victory for the State of West Virginia and the citizens of this County. Thankfully, this wasn’t a fatality, but Dulaney will end up in prison which is where she belongs.” Ishmael “Freddy” Howard pleaded guilty today to “Delivery of a Controlled Substance” with a sentence of prison time for not less than one nor more than fifteen years in the custody of the West Virginia Department of Corrections.  He was scheduled for a jury trial in front of the Honorable David J. Sims, but elected to plead guilty instead. He was immediately remanded to the Department of Corrections. Howard sold cocaine to an undercover confidential informant in October, 2024 and was indicted by the September, 2025 Ohio County Grand Jury.  Turak noted: “This is not his first felony drug conviction. Howard was convicted years ago and served years of federal time related to the Stormin’ Norman operation. Sadly, here we are again. I am grateful for the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force for their relentless efforts to eradicate narcotics trafficking in this area. They are the hidden heroes behind the work we do.” Read the full article

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Shawn R. Turak, Prosecuting Attorney, announces that the May 2026 Term of the Ohio County Circuit Court Grand Jury met on May 11, 2026, and returned 23 indictments against 25 people. The Ohio County Prosecutor's Office cautions that the indictments returned against the following people contain allegations and the individuals named in the indictments are presumed innocent and remain innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The following people have been charged as follows: An Indictment was returned against Cryshawn Dupree Blackford, a/ka "MO," a/k/a "Grandson," a/k/a "Moose-Sayin," 30, Canton, Ohio, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Failure to Seek Medical Assistance in Overdose Resulting in Death" and one count of the felony offense of "Possession with the Intent to Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance: Methamphetamine." An Indictment was returned against Gregory James Nightengale, Sr., 54, of Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Reckless Fleeing in a Vehicle." An Indictment was returned against Robert Joseph Allen Morris, 42, of Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with two counts of the felony offense of "Failure to Register as a Sex Offender." An Indictment was returned against Eric James Missy, 47, of Bellaire, Ohio, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, Second Offense." An Indictment was returned against Jubal Blankenship, 23, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Malicious Assault," one count of the felony offense of "Burglary," one count of the felony offense of "Strangulation" and one count of the felony offense of "Domestic Battery." An Indictment was returned against Sanuel Davis Wood, 46, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with two counts of the felony offense of "Burglary" and four counts of the felony offense of "Violation of Domestic Violence Protective Order." An Indictment was returned against Adonis Shepheard, 32, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Domestic Violence, Third or Subsequent Offense." An Indictment was returned against William Allen Diloreto, 31, Valley Grove, West Virginia, charging him with two counts of the felony offense of "Grand Larceny." An Indictment was returned against Lawrence William Murray 41, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with two counts of the felony offense of "Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance: Methamphetamine," one count of the felony offense of "Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance: Methamphetamine, Within 1,000 Feet of a School," one count of the felony offense of "Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance - a Narcotic Drug: Cocaine, Within 1,000 Feet of a School," one count of the felony offense of "Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance - a Narcotic Drug: Fentanyl, Within 1,000 Feet of a School," and one count of the misdemeanor offense of "Person Prohibited from Possessing a Firearm." An Indictment was returned against Larry Aaron Jackson, 30, Washington, Pennsylvania, charging him with two counts of the felony offense of "Delivery of a 2 Schedule II Controlled Substance - a Narcotic: Fentanyl," one count of the felony offense of "Transportation of a Controlled Substance, Fentanyl, Into the State" and one count of the felony offense of "Possession with Intent to Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Fentanyl." An Indictment was returned against John Doe charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Delivery of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance- Alprazolam," two counts of the felony offense of Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance, a Narcotic, Fentanyl," one count of the felony offense of "Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance - a Narcotic Drug: Cocaine," and one count of the felony offense of "Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance: Methamphetamine." An Indictment was returned against John Doe charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance: Methamphetamine." An Indictment was returned against John Doe, charging him with two counts of the felony offense of "Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance - a Narcotic Drug: Cocaine." An Indictment was returned against John Doe, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance - a Narcotic Drug: Cocaine." An Indictment was returned against John Doe, 38, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Burglary." An Indictment was returned against John Doe, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance - a Narcotic Drug: Cocaine." A Double Indictment was returned against John Doe, 20, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with three counts of the felony offense of "Robbery in the First Degree" and against John Doe, 19, Bellaire, Ohio, charging him with three counts of the felony offense of "Robbery in the First Degree." An Indictment was returned against Isaac David Boven 20, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with four counts of the felony offense of "Threatening Terrorist Act." An Indictment was returned against Ted Alford White, 75, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Wanton Endangerment with a Firearm." An Indictment was returned against Tammy Renee Hamblin, 43, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging her with four counts of the felony offense of "Conspiracy to Utter," one count of the felony offense of "Financial Exploitation of an Elderly Person," one count of the felony offense of "Fraudulent Schemes," and one count of the felony offense of "Failure to Appear." An Indictment was returned against Samuel Leon Wilson, 37, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with three counts of the felony offense of "Fraudulent Schemes" and three counts of "Obtaining Money by False Pretenses." A Superseding Indictment was returned against Terrance Baxter, 59, Bridgeport, Ohio, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance: A Narcotic, Cocaine, Within 1,000 Feet of a School" and one count of the felony offense of Transportation of a Controlled Substance into the State." An Indictment was returned against Delbert Ray Hall, 60, Triadelphia, West Virginia, charging him with twelve counts of the felony offense of "Shoplifting, Third Offense." Names of the John Doe's who were Indicted may be released at a later time once these individuals have been taken into custody. The individuals indicted and assigned to the Honorable Judge David J. Sims are required to appear at the Ohio County Docket Day on May 21, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m., and the individuals indicted and assigned to the Honorable Michael J. Olejasz are required to appear at the Ohio County Docket Day on May 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Read the full article

Prosecutor Shawn Turak: One after another. Conviction after conviction. Murderers, drug dealers, sex abusers – the worst of the worst, and you’re sending them to jail – and we’re not talking about slaps on wrists either. The latest? Dwayne Herring – sentenced to the max under state code for murdering his wife, trying to kill her father, and attempting to blow up and burn down the crime scene on Wheeling Island. Sadly, you were forced to use terms like “brutal,” and “bludgeoned,” and “helpless” while presenting the State’s case, but now the murderer will serve the maximum sentence for each crime and won’t be free again for at least a couple of decades. As always, you deflected credit by rightfully citing the impeccable work of the investigators with the Wheeling Police Department, but we must say, Madame Prosecutor, that we were extremely proud of you when the West Virginia Bar Association inducted you as a Fellow. The honor recognizes your outstanding dedication to your communities and honorable service to the legal profession, and it’s also proof your work sends a stern and clear message about consequence. Well done, and thank you for making Ohio County a safer place to live. Sincerely, Impressed Supporters Read the full article

The Ohio County Prosecutor’s Office announces the sentences of the following recent sexual assault and solicitation cases.  On February 3, 2026, 54 year old Chris Lipscomb was sentenced to not less than 3 nor more than 15 years in the custody of the Department of Corrections for his sexual assault of an 18 year old guest in his home. The crime occurred in Wheeling in January 2025. The victim was a guest and friend of the family. Upon his release from prison, which will be no earlier than February, 2029, he will serve an additional 25 years of supervised release and be a registered sex offender for life.  The Honorable Michael Olejasz presided over the case, which was investigated by the City of Wheeling Police Department.  CJ Jennings was sentenced last month to not less than 2 nor more than 10 years in prison for his conviction for Soliciting a Minor Via Computer. Upon release from prison, the Honorable Judge David Sims ordered Jennings to serve an additional 20 years on supervised release.  Jennings will also be a registered sex offender for life upon his release from prison. This case was investigated by the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department.  Finally, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department investigated Devine Alderson who was sentenced last month to not less than 1 to 5 years prison as a result of his conviction for Sexual Assault, Third Degree.  Alderson, aged 21, engaged in sexual relations with a minor, aged 14 at the time.  Last month, the Honorable Judge Michael Olejasz sentenced Alderson to incarceration at the Department of Corrections, and further ordered that upon his release from incarceration, Alderson be monitored by supervised release for 25 years.  Alderson will also remain a registered sex offender for life.  Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney Shawn R. Turak noted the importance of supervised release and sex offender registration to “assure the ongoing protection of our community, particularly minors”. Turak affirms her commitment to aggressively prosecuting sex crimes, “I remain committed towards working with victims of sexual assault, particularly those cases involving minors, who are most vulnerable.”  ​If you are a victim of sexual assault, you are encouraged to contact law enforcement and the Upper Ohio Valley Sexual Assault Help Center at (304) 234-1783. Read the full article

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Shawn R. Turak, Prosecuting Attorney, announces that the January 2026 Term of the Ohio County Circuit Court Grand Jury met on January 12, 2026, and returned 20 indictments against 21 people. The Ohio County Prosecutor's Office cautions that the indictments returned against the following people contain allegations and the individuals named in the indictments are presumed innocent and remain innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The following people have been charged as follows: An Indictment was returned against Dwayne Herring, 54, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Murder", one count of the felony offense of "Attempted First Degree Murder", and one count of the felony offense of "Attempted Arson." An Indictment was returned against Keisha Renee Wilson, 35, of Wheeling, West Virginia, charging her with two counts of the felony offense of "Child Abuse Resulting in Injury." An Indictment was returned against Benjamin Adam Winters, 31, of Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with two counts of the felony offense of "Attempt to Disarm a Law Enforcement Officer," one count of the felony offense of "Malicious Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer" and one count of the felony offense of "Damage of Equipment of Emergency Responders." An Indictment was returned against Jayme Edward Taylor, 28, of Jacksonville, Florida, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Burglary." An Indictment was returned against Louis David Smith, III, 43, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Robbery in the First Degree" and one count of the felony offense of "Attempted Burglary." An Indictment was returned against James Allen Cottrill, Jr., 60, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with four counts of the felony offense of "Failure to Register as a Sex Offender." An Indictment was returned against Jacob Michael Kinneer, 37, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Burglary." An Indictment was returned against Justin Joshua Bevins, 33, Augusta, West Virginia, charging him with two counts of the felony offense of "Fraud in Connection with an Access Device," one count of the felony offense of "Counterfeiting" and one count of the felony offense of "Failure to Appear." An Indictment was returned against Kayla Rae Cunningham Works, 41, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging her with one count of the felony offense of "Receiving or Transferring Stolen Goods." An Indictment was returned against Joseph Ray Courtwright, Sr., 47, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Possession with Intent to Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance: Methamphetamine." An Indictment was returned against Crystal Dawn Sleppy, 44, Bellaire, Ohio, charging her with one count of the felony offense of "Possession with Intent to Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance: Methamphetamine." A Double Indictment was returned against Tracy Lynn McWhorter 46, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging her with five counts of the felony offense of "Possession with Intent to Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance: Methamphetamine," four counts of the felony offense of "Possession with Intent to Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance - A Narcotic, Cocaine," three counts of the felony offense of "Possession with Intent to Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance - A Narcotic, Fentanyl" and one count of the felony offense of "Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance: Methamphetamine" and against Aubrielle Strothers, 40, of Wheeling, West Virginia, charging her with one count of the felony offense of "Delivery of a Schedule II Controlled Substance: Methamphetamine." An Indictment was returned against Shelly Suzanne Brooks, 52, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging her with one count of the felony offense of "Possession with Intent to Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance: Methamphetamine." An Indictment was returned against Russell Leland Evans, 63, Triadelphia, West Virginia, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Malicious Assault", one count of the felony offense of "Strangulation", and one count of the misdemeanor offense of "Domestic Violence." An Indictment was returned against Deandra Dawn McCann a/k/a Angel Williams, 61, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging her with two counts of the felony offense of "Malicious Assault" and one count of the misdemeanor offense of "Domestic Violence." An Indictment was returned against Charles Edward Hutter, 60, Triadelphia, West Virginia, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Possession of Material Visually Portraying Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct." An Indictment was returned against Gage Allen Heckman, 22, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with one count of the felony offense of "Possession of Material Visually Portraying Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct," and two counts of the felony offense of "Use of Minors in Filming Sexually Explicit Conduct." An Indictment was returned against James Allen Hunter, 53, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with seven counts of the felony offense of "Failure to Register as a Sex Offender." An Indictment was returned against Elvis Adrian Castillo, 21, Patterson, New Jersey, charging him with two counts of the felony offense of "Reckless Fleeing in a Vehicle." An Indictment was returned against Brandon Gilbert Ramsey, 42, Wheeling, West Virginia, charging him with four counts of the felony offense of "Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, Second Offense." The individuals indicted and assigned to the Honorable Judge Michael J. Olejasz are required to appear at the Ohio County Docket Day on January 23, 2026, beginning at 10:00 a.m., and the individuals indicted and assigned to the Honorable David J. Sims are required to appear at the Ohio County Docket Day on January 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. 4 Read the full article

Shawn Turak, Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney, releases the following statement: On October 22, 2025, Joseph Earl Jones, 43, formerly of Pittsburgh, was convicted of “Sexual Assault, Second Degree” and “Abduction with the Intent to Defile” and sentenced by the Honorable Judge David J. Sims to not less than thirteen nor more than thirty-five years in prison. The investigation and conviction were part of a collaborative effort between the Wheeling Police Department and the West Virginia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) team.  The crimes occurred in 2008 when the victim, A.M., then 23 years old, was offered a ride by Jones who took her to a secluded location on City View Drive, a dead-end road, and brutally sodomized her.  Law enforcement and EMS arrived, the victim was taken to the hospital and a sex crimes kit was collected.  No offender was able to be charged based upon the evidence available at the time. In 2017, all untested sex crimes kits in the State of West Virginia were taken to the West Virginia State Police Crime Lab or Marshall University Forensic Science Center for processing and testing, including the sex crimes kit taken from A.M. from 2008. Forensic evidence was processed as part of the WV SAKI project and the suspected offender’s DNA was entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).  An association was made by the Marshall University Forensic Science Center in late 2020.  The lab connected the suspect’s DNA with a known DNA profile of Joseph Earl Jones whose DNA had been entered into CODIS as a result of his convictions for Second and Third Degree Sexual Assault in Ohio County from 2013.  Jones was sentenced in 2013 to 12 to 35 years for sex crimes committed against a mentally handicapped woman, including sodomy. Based upon the association made by Marshall University Forensic Science Center, the 2008 sexual assault investigation resumed and a SAKI investigator was able to collect and send a known swab of Jones’s DNA to Marshall University Forensic Science Center.  Shawn Turak, Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney, stated “The statistical probability of the DNA being anyone other than Joseph Earl Jones was 1 in 87.12 sextillion.  With that evidence, I submitted the case to the Ohio County Grand Jury in January 2025, which resulted in the Indictment against Jones.” This case was part of the West Virginia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI).  Funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative aims to create a coordinated community response that ensures just resolution to sexual assault cases. Through this program, funding is provided to support multidisciplinary community response teams engaged in the comprehensive reform of the jurisdiction’s approaches to sexual assault cases resulting from evidence found in previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits.  Additional information on the program can be found at https://www.sakitta.org/westvirginia/. “I was particularly excited to work on this case with the SAKI team. I am proud to have been a part of this County’s first SAKI cold case conviction,” noted Prosecuting Attorney Shawn R. Turak, who added, “Sometimes justice delayed feels like justice deprived. I think we can all understand that.  As the then Assistant Prosecuting Attorney who handled the case against Jones in 2013, when I saw his name on the potential hit confirmation letter, I was all the more committed to re-opening the investigation.” Turak further stated, “The State was able to reach this conclusion with the full approval and cooperation of the victim, who was seated in the courtroom when Mr. Jones was convicted and sentenced. Every time I met with her or spoke with her by phone, her focus never wavered:  she wanted to ensure no woman would ever go through the ordeal she experienced.”  When discussing the victim, Turak said, “she is braver than she knows and I truly hope that putting this behind her for once and for all may put her on a path of healing and closure.” Finally, Turak noted that she remains committed to working with victims and prosecuting sexual assault cases, both freshly reported and cold cases, no matter the age of the victim. “This crime is so very pervasive and so personal. It is particularly satisfying to me to restore to a victim her voice and equilibrium, but even more empowering to that victim to be restored.” If you are a victim of sexual assault, you are encouraged to contact law enforcement and the Upper Ohio Valley Sexual Assault Help Center at (304) 234-1783. Read the full article