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Two arrested in beating, robbery case

PARKERSBURG – A man charged with possession of a gun taken from the Veterans Museum of the Mid-Ohio Valley in 2011 was one of two people arrested Thursday in connection with the assault and attempted robbery of a 79-year-old man.

Matthew Edward Depew, 21, and Amber Nicole Pickens, 27, both of 4812 15th Ave., Parkersburg, were arrested Thursday morning near Interstate 77 and West Virginia 95. Police said they attempted to rob Homer Wilson, who suffered “substantial injuries to his face and one arm.”

Depew was out on bond after he had been charged in 2011 with transferring or receiving stolen property taken from the Parkersburg museum. He has not been indicted on the charge.

According to the criminal complaint filed with Wood County Magistrate Court, Depew punched Wilson in the face after Pickens got in the car with Wilson and was talking to him.

“While Depew was hitting him, Pickens took his car key and said ‘Get his wallet’ as Depew continued to hit him,” the complaint stated.

They were arraigned in magistrate court on charges of first-degree robbery and are in custody pending a bond hearing in circuit court.

Upon interviewing the victim around 9:15 a.m. Thursday and two independent witnesses, detectives learned of the description of the vehicle the pair left the scene of the crime in.

Deputies stopped a vehicle on I-77 and W.Va. 95 matching that description as well as the description of the male and female suspects, according to reports.

Depew was arraigned before Magistrate Brenda Marshall and Pickens was arraigned before Magistrate Joe Kuhl on charges of first-degree robbery.

According to court records, on Dec. 30, 2011 Depew was found to be in possession of a Beretta 9 mm handgun that had been taken from the Veterans Museum of the Mid-Ohio Valley on Seventh Street in Parkersburg. His case was bound over to circuit court from magistrate court.

In a hearing on Feb. 27, 2013, Depew was granted a motion to modify his bond on the possession charge by removing him from home confinement.

In September 2012, Depew, along with William Joseph Kerns, was acquitted of charges of burglary, first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery in connection with an incident at a West Virginia Avenue house.

Parkersburg Police Department and Wood County Sheriff’s Office assisted in bringing the suspects into custody, police said.

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