Final round of arraignments heard

Richards pleads innocent to registering charges

By JEFFREY SAULTON, jsaulton@newsandsentinel.com
PARKERSBURG — A man under indictment in Gilmer County was arraigned Friday in Wood County Circuit Court after he was indicted last week.

John Manis Richards, 44, pleaded innocent to the charge of failure to register as a sex offender from April 2007. His trial was set for Aug. 22.

In March, he was indicted by the Gilmer County grand jury on charges of conspiracy, grand larceny and breaking and entering in connection with the robbery of a hardware store. His trial in Gilmer County was set for the July court term.

Richards has faced charges in West Virginia and Ohio, including charges of abduction and a sex-related crime in Washington County, Ohio, in 2004.

In the indictment Richards address was listed as 777A Pell St., Grantsville, but in his court file his address is also listed as 29 Kendall Ave., Parkersburg.

Two of three sealed indictments before Reed were opened Friday. They were:

? James Donaway, also known as Butch Donaway, 49, 1716 Covert St., Parkersburg, was indicted on two charges of delivery of a controlled substance, cocaine. He pleaded innocent and his trial was set for Aug. 19.

? Karyn Marie Jalbert, 43, 1716 Covert St., Parkersburg, was indicted on three charges of delivery of a controlled substance, cocaine. She pleaded innocent to the indictment and her trial was set for Aug. 26. A bond reduction hearing was set for 1:30 p.m. May 28.

In all, eight indictments handed down by the grand jury were sealed. Two of the indictments were still sealed as of Friday.



(Editor’s Note: Indictments are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.)