A Richwood man could be facing more than a decade in prison after allegedly abducting and injuring a woman then running from police.
The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Trey Shelton, 26, of 606 Forrest Lane, Richwood, charging him with one count each of abduction, vehicular assault, endangering children, failure to comply with the order of a peace officer and aggravated menacing.
According to court documents, about 8:43 p.m., June 26, a deputy with the Union County Sheriff’s Office saw a silver Honda speeding out of a parking lot and swerving in both lanes of traffic. The deputy pursued the car and tried to stop it, but stopped, “because he considered the chase too dangerous to continue” said Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips.
The deputy went back to Richwood and was talking with a Richwood Police officer. The pair determined it was likely Shelton driving the car. While the two law enforcement officers were talking, they got a call about a crash at the intersection of state routes 4 and 37.
As the deputy pulled up to the crash, a silver Honda sped away, headed west on Route 37.
Phillips said witnesses pointed at the car and told the deputy he was getting away.
The deputy followed with his lights and sirens on, but the vehicle didn’t stop.
According to court documents, the vehicle, “exceeded 100 MPH in an attempt to elude (the deputy), creating a substantial risk to the occupants of the vehicle.”
Phillips said the man allegedly nearly hit several other vehicles including fire trucks, then drove through a road closed sign. The car drove into Richwood where the police officer was waiting. The car continued to weave through town and law enforcement officials lost sight of it.
Phillips said “witnesses directed law enforcement to the driver” who had pulled into the rear of an apartment complex and parked among other cars.
When deputies and officers approached the car, they found a 2-year-old boy laying on the back seat, “not in a seatbelt or child safety restraint.”
Phillips said investigators also found “a severely injured female in the passenger seat, covered in blood.”
The woman told police she crashed her car, trying to hide from and get away from Shelton, who was chasing her. Witnesses confirmed that Shelton was chasing the woman at the time of the crash. Phillips said the victim told investigators that once she crashed, Shelton “allegedly pulled her and the child out of the vehicle, into his and fled.”
If convicted on all counts, Shelton could face more than 12 years in prison.
Also indicted were:
Codefendants Justin M. Oppy and Melinda M. Martin. Oppy, 32, and Martin, 28, both of 201 North Ave., Apartment 9, are each charged with one count of possession of a fentanyl-related compound.
According to court documents, on Feb. 18, police were called to the North Avenue home for an unconscious man. Phillips said that when police arrived, Oppy was unconscious and Martin was “hysterical.”
First responders administered Narcan and revived Oppy. Both Oppy and Martin were taken to the hospital.
The defendants told police they had allegedly smoked crack cocaine and fentanyl. Investigators seized instruments with drug residue.
If convicted, Oppy and Martin could each face as many as 12 months in prison.
Paul Laverne Pearsell, 48, of Ashley. Pearsell is charged with one count of aggravated possession of drugs. The charges stem from a Jan. 13 arrest involving methamphetamine.
If convicted, Pearsell could face as many as 12 months in prison.