Rape, drug trafficking among indictments

Aaron Snyder, The Daily Independent, Ashland, Ky.
Updated ·4 min read

May 10—CATLETTSBURG — Trafficking and rape are among the charges included in the indictments handed up by grand juries in Boyd County over the last two weeks.

An indictment is a formal accusation and is not an indication of guilt. Anyone named in an indictment should be presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

The following have been indicted in Boyd County:

—Hunter Masters, 19, of Raceland, was indicted on charges of trafficking cocaine (first degree, first offense), marijuana (first offense) and mushrooms (second-degree trafficking of a hallucinogen). He was also indicted for possessing drug paraphernalia. Masters is in the Boyd County Detention Center on $100,000 bond.

—Diamond S. Holyfield, 28, of Russell, was indicted on two counts of second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy. The crimes allegedly occurred between Dec. 1, 2022, and Dec. 1, 2023. The victim is under 14 years old. Holyfield is in the Boyd County jail on $100,000 bond.

—Stephen R. Messer, 47, of Ashland, was indicted on trafficking carfentanil or fentanyl derivatives, a Class C felony. He's in the Boyd County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond.

—Steven L. Rhoades, 66, of Ashland, was indicted on charges of third-degree criminal mischief and theft of motor vehicle registration plate/decal. Rhoades is in jail on a $75,000 bond.

—Ian Lauhon, 44, of Ashland, was indicted on the crime of procuring or promoting use of a minor by electronic means. Lauhon is in the detention center on a $75,000 bond.

—Joseph M. Muncy, 39, of Ulysses, was indicted on the charge of tampering with a witness.

—Byron R. Pennington, 49, of Rush, and Brett D. Ross, 42, also of Rush, were indicted on the charge of theft by unlawful taking of an automobile with a value between $10,000 and $1 million.

—Timothy M. Evans, 48, of Catlettsburg, was indicted on the charges of receiving stolen property (between $1,000-$10,000), possession of methamphetamine, operating on a suspended/revoked license and expired tags.

—Zachary A. Fox, 28, of Ironton, was indicted on a third-degree assault charge.

—Zachery L. Rice, 37, of Ashland, was indicted on the following charges: public intoxication, third-degree assault of a police/probation officer, third-degree terroristic threatening, second-degree disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

—Melissa M. Wilson, 38, of Ashland, was indicted on two counts of first-degree promoting contraband.

—Brandon W. Gilbert, 41, of Ashland, was indicted on the charges of first-degree possession of heroin and tampering with physical evidence.

—Bobbie Huff, 63, of Mercer, Pennsylvania, was indicted on the following charges: buy/possess drug paraphernalia, first-degree cocaine possession and failure to wear a seat belt.

—Rebecca J. Ratliff, 42, of Haverhill, was indicted on the charge of theft by unlawful taking of an automobile valued between $1,000 and $10,000.

—Litisha Jacobs, 40, of Ashland, was indicted on charges of careless driving, no license, possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle and a first-degree methamphetamine possession.

—Amber Lacks, 40, of Raceland, was indicted on charges of first-degree cocaine possession and buy/possess drug paraphernalia.

—Sherri Gipson, 49, of Flatwoods, was indicted on charges of possession of methamphetamine (first degree, third or greater offense) and giving an officer false identifying information.

—Michael Cordle, 49, of an unlisted address, was indicted on charges of third-degree criminal trespassing and first-degree, first-offense possession of methamphetamine.

—Charles D. Baldridge, 47, of Westwood, was indicted on charges of public intoxication and first-degree heroin possession.

—Anthony Walker, 44, of an unknown address, was indicted on charges of buy/possess drug paraphernalia and first-degree possession of cocaine.

—Westley A. Sullivan, 26, of Ashland, was indicted on charges of public intoxication (controlled substance) and possession of a controlled substance.

—Byron R. Pennington, 49, of Rush, was indicted on the charge of theft by unlawful taking/disposition ($1,000 or more but less than $10,000).

—Dustin Selvage, 40, of Westwood, was indicted on the charge of first-degree promoting contraband.

—Adam Lucas, 42, of Denton, was indicted on charges of methamphetamine possession, operating on a suspended/revoked license and expired tags.

—Joe Bentley, 62, of an unknown address, was indicted on the charge of first-degree, first-offense possession of fentanyl.

—Jason P. Perkins, 44, of Ashland, was indicted on the following charges: public intoxication (controlled substance) and first-degree possession of heroin.