MARTIN COUNTY, KENTUCKY GRAND JURY INDICTS SIX PEOPLE ON EIGHT CASES DURING MAY 2026 MEETING SESSIONS; AS BRUTAL ASSAULT CASE AND SEPARATE CHILD ABUSE CASE LEADING OTHER HALF DOZEN INDICTMENTS FOR BAIL JUMPING CASES
MAY16, 2026 – written by WADE QUEEN
A Martin County, Kentucky grand jury returned eight indictments on Thursday, May 7, deciding that the eight cases should be considered for further judicial review; in cases ranging from alleged child abuse and first-degree assault to a series of bail-jumping charges involving multiple defendants.
Millard Newsome, 45, of Debord, KY., is facing a first-degree assault charge, a Class B felony with a possible penalty of 10 to 20 years and a fine of up to $10,000.
The indictment accuses Millard Newsome of intentionally causing serious injury to Calvin Pauley by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument April 11.
According to the indictment Millard Newsome is allegeded of brutally beating a 71-year-old man during an April cookout and jailed behind bars after the grand jury indicted him on the first-degree assault charge.
Martin County Sheriff Office deputies arrested Millard Daniel Newsome, 45, of Debord, KY., on Friday, May 8, and lodged him in the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville in Johnson County.
Mr. Newsome’s arrest follows an indictment by a Martin County grand jury alleging he caused serious physical injury to Calvin Pauley of Inez “by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument” during the April 11 incident at Pauley’s East Main Street residence.
As part of the indictment, Martin Circuit Judge J. Kevin Holbrook set Newsome’s bond at $50,000.
Law enforcement and emergency medical personnel responded to the home around 7:00 P.M., April 11 and found Calvin Pauley suffering from extensive facial injuries, according to Martin County Sheriff John H. Kirk.
Sheriff Kirk reported that Calvin Pauley had a bloodied face and head, swelling that prevented him from opening one eye, a possible broken nose and other injuries.
“He had severe damage to his left eye and all the bones surrounding it,” Sheriff Kirk said.
“It was clear that he was beaten.”
EMS transported Calvin Pauley to Appalachian Regional Hospital in Prestonsburg, KY., before flying him by helicopter to a University of Kentucky hospital in Lexington for further treatment.
According to investigators, Calvin Pauley said Millard Newsome attacked him without provocation. Millard Newsome and another witness at the scene reportedly said that Newsome acted in self-defense.
Following further investigation, Sheriff Kirk presented the case to the Martin County grand jury.
Martin County officials did not release additional information.
Millard Newsome’s bail was set at $50,000 full cash.
Tiffany Taylor, 46, of Huntington, West Virginia, is facing one count of criminal abuse in the second degree – child under 12 years old and two counts of falsely reporting an incident to law enforcement.
The grand jury charges that from July 1, 2024 through April 13, 2026; Tiffany Taylor wantonly abused a child under 12 years of age, thereby causing torture, cruel confinement and/or cruel punishment.
According to the indictment, Tiffany Taylor also falsely reported two offenses or incidents to law enforcement October 15, 2025. Martin Circuit Judge John Kevin Holbrook set Taylor’s bail at $10,000.
John Pack, 40, of Kermit, West Virginia, faces a charge of bail jumping in the first degree. According to the indictment, Pack failed to appear April 16 for sentencing in Martin Circuit Court case 25-CR-00047. Mr. Pack bail is $5,000. Jonathan Pack, 40, of Crum, West Virginia, stands accused of bail jumping in the first degree. The grand jury alleges that Mr. Pack failed to appear April 16 for a sentencing hearing in Martin Circuit Court case 23-CR-00046. Mr. Pack bail is $5,000.
Brian Howell, 46, of Inez, KY., faces charges of bail jumping in the first degree and persistent felony offender in the first degree. The indictment states that Howell failed to appear April 16 for a pretrial conference in Martin Circuit Court. The grand jury also alleges Howell is a persistent felony offender because he was convicted, sentenced and released on a previous felony offense within five years of the instant offense. Brian Howell’s bail is $5,000.
Joshua Moore, 28, of Inez, is facing a charge of bail jumping in the first degree. The grand jury charges that Joshua Moore failed to appear April 2 for a pretrial conference in Martin Circuit Court case 26-CR-00010. Joshua Moore bail is $5,000.
Joshua Moore stands accused in a second indictment of bail jumping in the first degree. In that case, the grand jury alleges he failed to appear April 2 for a pretrial conference in Martin Circuit Court case 25-CR-00069. Joshua Moore bail in that case is also $5,000.
Rita Lynn Maynard, 54, of Lovely, stands accused of bail jumping in the first degree. The grand jury charges that Rita Maynard failed to appear April 2 for a sentencing hearing in Martin Circuit Court case 25-CR-00059. Rita Maynard’s bail is $5,000.
