Grand jury issues first indictments of 2024

Jan. 7—CATLETTSBURG — A Boyd County grand jury hit the ground running for the first time this year by issuing a handful of criminal indictments ranging from charges of custodial interference to wanton endangerment of a police officer.

An indictment only means a grand jury found enough probable cause to issue official criminal charges and does not mean a defendant is guilty.

All the individuals listed below remain innocent until proven guilty.

—Benjamin Scott Layne, 44, of Ceredo, West Virginia, was indicted in connection to a police chase on Dec. 21.

Layne was charged by the grand jury with two counts of first-degree fleeing or evading police (both by vehicle and on foot), first-degree wanton endangerment of a police officer, tampering with physical evidence, trafficking methamphetamine and heroin, speeding 26 mph over the speed limit, DUI and reckless driving.

Layne is held on a $100,000 cash bond.

—Anita Rutter, 43, of Ashland, was indicted on four counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument.

—Jason A. Conley, 35, of Catlettsburg, was indicted on charges of driving under the influence, identity theft and other traffic-related offenses.

—Donald Vercrouse, 43, of Ashland, was indicted on a sole count of simple possession of methamphetamine.

—Jamie C. Minnehan, 45, of Ashland, was indicted as Vercrouse's co-defendant, charged with simple possession methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

—Both Raven Chevalley, 28, of Ashland, and Brandie N. Miller, 36, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, were indicted on a sole count of custodial interference.

—Aiden C. Dorsey, 21, of Ashland, was indicted on charges of driving on a DUI suspended license and other traffic related violations.

(606) 326-2652 — mjepling@dailyindependent.com