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Lewis County Grand Jury Indicts 26 on a Variety of Charges
Posted Monday, November 2, 2009 ; 05:55 PM | View Comments | Post Comment
Updated Tuesday, November 3, 2009 ; 02:05 PM


The charges ranged from armed robbery to cruelty to animals.

WESTON -- The November term of the Lewis County grand jury handed up 26 indictments, Monday.

Eric Metz, 39 of Weston, faces armed robbery, malicious wounding, conspiracy, burglary, and petit larceny charges.

Metz is already in the Central Regional Jail on similar charges and was recently accused of trying to get someone to kill the man he is accused of robbing.

The grand jury indicted three people for their parts in a break-in at the Weston McDonald's.

Christopher Eakle, 27 of Clarksburg, Patricia Stemple, 22 of Weston and April Payne, 25 of Lost Creek, all face conspiracy charges.

The grand jury also indicted Eakle on entering without breaking, grand larceny, and attempted grand larceny; Stemple, with aiding and abetting; and Payne with accessory after the fact.

Prosecutors say Stemple was a manager at the restaurant and that he gave Eakle a key to break in.

They allege Payne helped Eakle hide the money.

Also indicted was Pamela Blubaugh, 48 of Ireland, for cruelty to animals.

Deputies raided Blubaugh's home and seized more than 70 dogs, after discovering she was running a private, unlicensed rescue shelter.

The dogs were taken to shelters in nearby counties.

The seizure was an issue at Lewis County Commission meetings for weeks following the raid.

Jedadiah Stump, 22 of Hacker Valley and Matthew Painter, 21 of Rock Cave were both indicted for grand larceny and conspiracy.

The two allegedly stole an ATV from a home in Walkersville, last February.

Justin Riggs, 26 of French Creek was indicted for DUI causing death, child neglect resulting in injury and possessing a precursor to methanmphetamine.

Last October, Riggs was under the influence of a controlled substance when he crossed the center line on Route 4, ran off the roadway, and hit a tree, killing his passenger, Samantha Chidester, prosecutors said.

Riggs had an unrestrained child in the car who was injured during the wreck, according to prosecutors.

Officers also allegedly found pseudoephedrine on Riggs at the accident scene.

Eight of the indictments were sealed.

Copyright 2009 West Virginia Media. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
User Comments [ post comment ]
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Tommy
11/3/09 at 4:11 PM
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To Betty & any other person who does not know Pam & wish to run your mouth. This woman had a place for these dogs. A nice barn with heat & all. Many people dropped dogs off because they knew she loved dogs and would take them in. Not only did she take them in, she cared for them, including food & water. This is a witch hunt with major trumped up charges. There is missing persons in Lewis County they can't find, several worthless checks warrants that the Sheriff Department obviously refuses to serve, because I know where to find the people but the sheriff can't? But they want to go after a little lady for helping homeless dogs. Lewis County Law Enforcement is like having no Law Enforcement at All.
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John Ritter
11/3/09 at 1:20 PM
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Betty, shutup and read the constitution.
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Betty
11/3/09 at 9:06 AM
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Deldemcclung - um, 70 dogs - SEVEN ZERO... SEVENTY. You can't properly care for SEVENTY dogs in your private home.. even if you live in a mansion. One person has NO BUSINESS caring for 70 dogs - how clueless are you? No one said you can't take in a stray dog - but most people with common sense know that to handle 70 dogs there must be some sort of licensing and oversight to protect the animals- something the propety owner chose not to do. How does one person keep files on each of 70 dogs? How does one person feed, clean, and vaccinate 70 dogs? It doesn't happen - and dogs get neglected and abused. Clearly common sense is not so common where ever you are from.
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Deldemcclung
11/2/09 at 10:03 PM
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A PRIVATE, UN-licensed rescue shelter? ...in her home? What moron dreamed up THAT charge? Private? In her OWN home! Can we all say PRIVATE! Like in PRIVATE PROPERTY? I guess there are still backwoods parts of West Virginia where the Constitution hasn't been heard of. Too bad I didn't complete my lawyering degree...I'd volunteer my time and talents to put the "authorities" in a shelter. Lewis county you say? I have family living there...guess I best warn them about keeping them thar 2 doggies and a cat in the house. I wouldn't want them to be lynched for "rescuing" the critters from the elements. Or sheltering the poor little homeless beasts from those evil ole police manz. Good Grief!

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