The indictments returned by a Rockbridge County grand jury July 13 included numerous indictments against several individuals for sexual crimes against minors.
Raymond Coleman Leadbetter Jr., 61, of Lexington, was indicted for five counts of using a communication device to propose a sex act to a minor between Feb 14 and April 14, 2026, and one count of possession of child pornography, eight counts of child pornography as a second or subsequent offense and one count of sexual abuse of an animal, all on April 24, 2026. Local law enforcement was made aware of Leadbetter’s alleged communication with a minor through Predator Poacher, a Houston-based organization which conducts sting operations on adults who seek sexual activity with minors. Leadbetter was arrested on April 24 and has been held without bond at Rockbridge Regional Jail since then.
Robert Wayne Barton, 60, of Glasgow was directly indicted on four felony charges: one count of child abuse or neglect, one count of aggravated sexual battery of a minor, one count of object sexual penetration of a minor and one count of attempted aggravated sexual battery or object sexual penetration of a minor. The alleged conduct that resulted in the charges occurred between June 1, 2016, and Dec. 31, 2020. Barton was taken into custody last Wednesday and is being held without bond at Rockbridge Regional Jail.
Michael Scott Hostetter, 40, of Lexington, was also directly indicted by the grand jury on three felony charges: one count of child abuse or neglect, one count of aggravated sexual battery of a minor and one count of attempted aggravated sexual battery of a minor between Sept. 1, 2024, and Aug. 31, 2025. Hostetter was taken into custody last Tuesday and is being held without bond at the Rockbridge Regional Jail.
Hunter Lane Kennon, 32, originally of Fairfield, was directly indicted on 11 felony charges: eight counts of possession of child pornography, two counts of possession of child pornography as a second or subsequent offense and one count of sexual abuse of an animal, with all charges allegedly occurring between Sept. 18, 2024, and Jan. 6, 2025.
Kennon has been indicted by two previous Rockbridge County grand juries for possession of child pornography charges, first on Nov. 6, 2023, (one initial count and 10 as a second or subsequent offense, all dated June 10, 2022) and the second time on July 8, 2024, for 10 additional counts of possession of child pornography as a second or subsequent offense. He pled guilty to all counts and was sentenced to 90 years with 82 suspended on April 15, 2025. He is currently serving that sentence at Lunenburg Correctional Center in Victoria, Va., according to the Virginia Department of Corrections. Warrants have been issued for the new indictments.
The grand jury also returned 18 direct felony indictments against Richard Dale Bays, 61, of Portsmouth. He is charged with one count of using a communication device to propose a sex act to a minor, as well as two counts as subsequent violations; one count of production of child pornography and 11 subsequent counts of production of child pornography; and three counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor. The indictments were all dated between April 24 and April 29, 2026. Warrants have been issued for the indictments.
-The grand jury also returned indictments against the following individuals: Charlene Nicole Bryant, 40, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine), on March 9, 2026.
Justin Joseph Barby, 49, for one felony count of failure to register or update information as a sex offender (second or subsequent offense) on Feb. 16, 2026.
Leonidas Paul Mundy, 62, for one felony count of failing to stop at the scene of an accident on March 5, 2026.
Scott Daniel McCray, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on Jan. 27, 2026 and one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on Nov. 22, 2025.
Sydney Houston Rowsey, 29, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug and one felony count of child endangerment on Jan. 10, 2026.
Jeffrey Wayne Saunders, for one felony count of distribution of 10 grams or more of methamphetamine on Feb. 7, 2026; one felony count of possession of 100 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute between Feb. 15 and Feb. 18, 2026; and one felony count of eluding police on Feb. 15, 2026.
Summer Leigh Vance, 46, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on Feb. 7, 2026 and two felony counts of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on Aug. 17, 2025.
Karen Jean Hopkins, 51, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on Jan. 19, 2026.
Jerel Blake Smals, 45, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on March 8, 2026.
Kyrsten Olyvia Marie Slagle, 24, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on March 8, 2026.
Michah Devon Nelson, 30, for one felony count of possession of burglary tools on April 2, 2026.
Brandon Scott Anderson, 38, for one felony count of assault on a corrections officer on April 20, 2026.
Donale Lee Clark III, 28, for one felony count of torturing or maiming a dog or cat causing death or serious injury on Feb. 9, 2026.
Marsha Ann Fitzgerald, 41, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on Jan 19, 2026.
Brandon Carl Harmeling, 27, for two felony counts of grand larceny, two felony counts of conspiracy to commit grand larceny, two felony counts of destruction of property, two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction of property, two felony counts of larceny with intent to distribute and two felony counts of conspiracy to commit larceny with intent to distribute on Dec. 17 and Dec. 19, 2026.
James Daniel Harmeling, 31, for two felony counts of grand larceny, two felony counts of conspiracy to commit grand larceny, two felony counts of destruction of property, two felony counts of conspiracy to commit destruction of property, two felony counts of larceny with intent to distribute and two felony counts of conspiracy to commit larceny with intent to distribute on Dec. 17 and Dec. 19, 2026.
Kirsten Brianna Tharp, 33, for one felony count of theft of a public record on May 13, 2026.
Nicholas Colton Falls, 31, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug on May 28, 2026.
Christopher Walton Fix, 44, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on Feb. 28, 2026 and one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on Aug. 30, 2025.
Anthony J. Trinca, 46, for one felony count of entering a building at night with the intent to commit larceny and one felony count of grand larceny on Jan. 31, 2026.
Matthew Thomas Urbanowiecz, 41, for one felony count of entering a building at night with the intent to commit larceny and one felony count of grand larceny on Jan. 31, 2026.
Ashley Lee Shaver, 35, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on Jan. 9, 2026.
Nicole Elizabeth Glenn, 43, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on Jan. 27, 2026.
Charles Richard Huff, 29, for one felony count of delivering drugs to a prisoner on March 8, 2026.
Dalton Joseph Moore, 26, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on Dec. 21, 2025.
Jessica Ann O’Conner, 30, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on Jan. 7, 2026.
Oakley Drew Thevrien, 30, for one felony count of grand larceny on Nov. 4, 2025.
Crystal Gail Mohler, 41, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on Jan. 26, 2026.
Jonathan Lee Strickler, 38, for one felony count of grand larceny between June 24 and July 4, 2025.
James Grant Crowe, 45, for one felony count of grand larceny of a motor vehicle on Oct. 10, 2025.
Anthony Blake Fitzgerald, 25, for one felony count of strangulation and one felony count of possession of a firearm by a non-violent felon within 10 years of conviction on April 13, 2026.
Matthey Leroy Tomlin, 31, for one felony count of grand larceny and one felony count of larceny with intent to distribute on Nov. 4, 2025.
Kenneth Anthony Thomas, 33, for one felony count of grand larceny on May 1-2, 2026.
Ian Richard Hoffman, 50, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) and one felony count of possession of more than one ounce of marijuana with intent to distribute on Feb. 26, 2026.
Dakota Joe Shelton, 35, for one felony count of possession of a schedule I or II drug (methamphetamine) on Jan. 18, 2026.
