TODDLER FOUND ALONE OUTSIDE OF RESIDENCE LEADS TO DRUG ARREST OF MARTIN COUNTY MAN, OTHER CHARGES FOR MOTHER OF ABANDONED CHILD

 

BAD PARENTING: CHILD ABANDONMENT SUSPECTS NICHOLAS M. WARD AND AMY JUSTICE. AFTER TODDLER FOUND OUTSIDE ALONE.

 

A report of an abandoned child at a residence in Martin County landed the child’s mother and a man being arrested on numerous criminal charges.

 

In a press news release from the Martin County Sheriff Department, on Monday evening, August 5, the Martin County Sheriff Department, along with the Kentucky State Police, responded to a complaint at a residence on Blacklog Road concerning a 2 year-old child that was located outside alone. 

 

A KSP trooper attempted to knock on the residence door several times, but no one responded, that is when troopers and deputy Aaron Blevins with the Martin County Sheriff Department made a forced entrance into the residence. 

 

Once inside the residence, a female was allegedly found in a bathroom “shooting up.” That female was placed under arrest, who was later identified as Amy Justice, 31, of Warfield; and at that same time, a sister to Amy Justice, along with Social Services, arrived at the residence. 

 

Amy Justice’s sister requested to get the child some clothing out a closet and once she opened the closet door, deputy Blevins found a man hiding inside. The man was ordered to exit the closet, but refused several commands. Officers  used force to get the man, identified as 41 year-old Nicholas M. Ward, of Inez, out of the closet and he allegedly continued to be combative and resist commands. Officers finally got the Ward’s hands behind his back, were he was placed into handcuffs. 

 

The police officers allegedly found a syringe inside the closet where Nicholas Ward was hiding and also a baggie containing a crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine on Mr. Ward. 

 

Nicholas M. Ward was arrested by deputy Aaron Blevins, and was charged with the following ten offenses: 

• POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE (METHAMPHETAMINE), 

• DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS, 

• RESISTING ARREST, 

•  MENACING, 

• ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A MINOR, 

• FAILURE TO APPEAR, CITATION FOR MISDEMEANOR, 

• FAILURE TO APPEAR, 

• ESCAPE 2ND DEGREE-(IDENTIFY FACILITY), 

• THEFT BY UNLAWFUL TAKING OR DISPOSITION BICYCLES $500 OR MORE BUT UNDER/$10,000, 

• CONTEMPT OF COURT LIBEL/SLANDER RESISTANCE TO ORDER.

 

Amy Justice was arrested by a trooper with Kentucky State Police, and was charged with:

 •  ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A MINOR,

 • DISORDERLY CONDUCT, 2ND DEGREE, 

 • MENACING, 

•  RESISTING ARREST.

 

Both Nicholas Ward and  Amy Justice were taken to and lodged in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville.

 

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INEZ COUPLE ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES 

 

A Martin County couple got a free ride, via taxpayer money, to jail following a drug bust at a Martin County home.

The raid happened Tuesday night, August 6, on Fitch Branch in Inez.

When the Martin County Sheriff Department got to the home and made contact with those inside, they spotted Rodney M. Estep, 33, with a set of scales and a crystal substance setting in his lap.

The homeowner gave the police permission to search the room where the drug paraphernalia had been spotted. During the search, officers found methamphetamine in different baggies along with another set of scales and several used syringes. About $450 in cash was also recovered.

Officers also found Estep’s girlfriend, Kelly L. Jude, 42, with a used syringe.

Rodney Estep and Kelly Jude were both charged with: 

• TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE – (> OR = 2 GRAMS METHAMPHETAMINE), 

• DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS.

Rodney Estep and Kelly Jude both were taken to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center

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William A. Brennan, 29, of Lavalette, West Virginia; was arrested on August 5, 2019, at 3:29 P.M., by Sheriff John H.Kirk of the Martin County Sheriff Department, and was charged with:

• SERVING BENCH WARRANT FOR COURT.

Kathy Muncy, 59, of Inez, Kentucky; was arrested on August 5, 2019, at 9:36 P.M., by Sheriff John H. Kirk of the Martin County Sheriff Department, and was charged with: 

• OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLE UNDER/INFLUENCE ALCOHOL/DRUGS/ETC. .08 – 1ST OFFENSE, 

• NO REGISTRATION RECEIPT,  

• FAILURE TO PRODUCE INSURANCE CARD, 

• LICENSE TO BE IN POSSESSION.  

Joseph Chris Jude, 38, of Lovely, Kentucky; was arrested on August 6, 2019, at 11:15 A.M., by officer Jason of the Kentucky Department of Corrections Division of Probation and Parole, and was charged with:

• PROBATION VIOLATION (FOR TECHNICAL VIOLATION).

April N. Hickman, 32, of Inez, Kentucky; was arrested on August 6, 2019, at 3:19 P.M., by the Martin County Sheriff Department,a nd was charged with:

• PUBLIC INTOXICATION-CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (EXCLUDES ALCOHOL).

Cheyenne N. May, 22, of Inez, Kentucky; was arrested on August 6,2019, at 4:07 P.M., by Sheriff John H. Kirk of the Martin County Sheriff Department, and was charged with: 

• SERVING BENCH WARRANT FOR COURT.

Marlena A. Evans, 41, of Lovely, Kentucky; was arrested on August 7, 2019, at 4:15 A.M., by  deputy Aaron Blevins, of the Martin County Sheriff Department, and was charged with: 

• WANTON ENDANGERMENT-2ND DEGREE-POLICE OFFICER, 

• RESISTING ARREST,

 •  MENACING, 

• DISORDERLY CONDUCT, 2ND DEGREE, 

• PUBLIC INTOXICATION-CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE (EXCLUDES ALCOHOL),  

• ASSAULT 3RD DEGREE-POLICE OFFICER OR PROBATION OFFICER, 

• TERRORISTIC THREATENING, 2ND DEGREE, 

• FLEEING OR EVADING POLICE, 2ND DEGREE (ON FOOT).

Christopher Garr Maynard, 42 ,of Pilgrim, Kentucky; was arrested on August 7, 2019, at 8:02 P.M. by the Martin County Sheriff Department, and was charged with:

•POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 1ST DEGREE 1ST OFFENSE (DRUG UNSPECIFIED), 

• POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 3RD DEGREE – DRUG UNSPECIFIED.

Carolynn Mills, 49, of Pilgrim, Kentucky; was arrested on August 7, 2019, at 8:11 P.M., by the Martin County Sheriff Department, and was charged with: 

• TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE – (< 2 GRAMS METHAMPHETAMINE).

Kayle Slone, 22, of Lovely, Kentucky; was arrested on August 7, 2019, at 9:59 P.M., by the Martin County Sheriff Department,and was charged with:

 • FAILURE TO APPEAR.

April N. Hickman, 32, of Inez, Kentucky; was arrested on August 9, 2019, at 2:31 A.M., by the Martin County Sheriff Department,and was charged with: 

• TERRORISTIC THREATENING, 3RD DEGREE

Chad A. Nichols, 35, of Lovely, Kentucky; was arrested in Johnson County on August 9, 2019, at 2:53 P.M., by the Johnson County Sheriff Department, and was charged with: 

• FLEEING OR EVADING POLICE, 1ST DEGREE (MOTOR VEHICLE), 

• WANTON ENDANGERMENT-1ST DEGREE-POLICE OFFICER,  

• ESCAPE 2ND DEGREE-(IDENTIFY FACILITY), 

• CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF FORGED INSTRUMENT 1ST DEGREE (IDENTIFY), 

• PERSISTENT FELONY OFFENDER I.

Ricky Lee Dyson, 39, of Debord, Kentucky; was arrested on August 9, 2019, at 4:33 P.M., by Sheriff John H. Kirk of the Martin County Sheriff Department, and was charged with: 

• FUGITIVE FROM ANOTHER STATE – WARRANT REQUIRED.

Kimberly A. Mullins, 45, of Tomahawk, Kentucky; was arrested in Lawrence County on August 9,2019, at 6:23 P.M., by deputy Chase Kirk, the Johnson County Sheriff Department,and was charged with:  

• TRAFFICKING  IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE  OR > – (< 2 GRAMS METHAMPHETAMINE).

Dustin Stacy, 28, of Tomahawk, Kentucky; was arrested in on August 10, 2019, at 1:27 A.M., by Martin County Constable Brad Preece, and was charged with: 

• SERVING BENCH WARRANT FOR COURT.

Danny J. Messer, 43, of Kermit,West Virginia; was arrested in on August 10,2019, at 1:38 A.M., by the Martin County Sheriff Department,and was charged with: 

• DRIVING ON DUI SUSPENDED LICENSE -1ST OFFENSE, 

• POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 2ND DEGREE – DRUG UNSPECIFIED,   

•  PRESCRIPTION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE NOT PROPER CONTAINER 1ST OFFENSE.

Phillip Jude, 25, of Inez, Kentucky; was arrested in on August 10, 2019, at 12:10 A.M., by the Martin County Sheriff Department,and was charged with: 

• SERVING BENCH WARRANT FOR COURT.

John W. Whitte, 37, of Wayne, West Virginia; was arrested in on August 12, 2019, at 3:47 P.M., by the Martin County Sheriff Department, and was charged with: 

• NO REGISTRATION PLATES,

 • NO OPERATORS-MOPED LICENSE.

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