The 17-year-old Washington County youth accused of stabbing and killing 19-year-old Lamarr Wilder of Athens at a June 12 birthday party near Belpre will not be tried as an adult.
Washington County Prosecutor Jim Schneider said he made the decision based on evidence that the boy, who claimed Wilder and other individuals attacked him, did not purposely try to cause Wilder's death.
"Had it been murder, then we would have definitely been seeking to try him as an adult and would have done that even before we had grand jury this past week," Schneider said. "But we wanted to wait and see what all the evidence was and what people testified about before we decided what type of charge to file.
"We had already done a background check on him. He has no juvenile record in this county or Athens County where he's lived at times," Schneider said. "Because of that, if it didn't look like any felony had been committed, we chose not to try him as an adult."
He said the youth would be tried in juvenile court, but did not state what specific charges the 17-year-old, whose name has not been released due to his age, would face.
One clue might be a charge of "complicity in a negligent homicide" that's among 16 counts leveled against James Scott Walraven of Athens by a Washington County grand jury this week.
Walraven is the father of Angela "Laken" Walraven, whose 18th birthday and graduation from Athens High School were being celebrated the night the stabbing occurred outside the 155 Ridgewood Blvd., Belpre, residence owned by Todd and Joanna Knapp. James Walraven reportedly told police he provided alcohol for the party, which was attended by dozens of teenagers from several area schools.
James Walraven, 33, and his wife, Shenandoah, 36, were each indicted on six first-degree misdemeanor counts of contributing to unruliness or delinquency of a child and six "unscheduled" (same as first-degree) misdemeanor counts of furnishing alcohol to underage persons.
James Walraven also faces two additional first-degree misdemeanor charges, one for assault and another for inciting to violence, as well as a fourth-degree felony charge of aggravated riot.
"The allegations are that he was trying to taunt the Federal Hocking kids into assaulting several Warren kids that had showed up at the party," Schneider said, adding that there were also Athens High School students in attendance.
"There were also 14- and 15-year-old kids from Parkersburg at this party consuming alcohol," he said.
"(James Walraven) was also charged with assault of the one juvenile who ended up stabbing Lamarr Wilder," Schneider said.
The juvenile has claimed he acted in self-defense after Wilder and several others, including James Walraven, attacked him.
Schneider said Wilder had several superficial knife wounds on his leg, but died from one wound that caught his main artery.
Wilder was a recent graduate of Federal Hocking. In the days after he died, friends described him as an easygoing, friendly and fun person to be around. Most said they were surprised to hear he had been in a fight.
A third-degree felony charge of tampering with evidence has also been leveled against Shenandoah Walraven.
Schneider said video evidence obtained during an investigation into the incident revealed the woman had purchased beer and bottles of vodka and tequila at the North End Market in Parkersburg prior to the party. Her husband's money was used to buy the alcohol.
Schneider said Shenandoah Walraven also attempted to conceal evidence of the alcohol from authorities at the scene of the party.
Schneider said the Knapps would not be charged as they were not present at the time of the party and did not know that alcohol would be provided for the minors. He added that Joanna Knapp had understood there would only be six or seven teens at the party, but between 30 and 50 eventually showed up at the house.
The Walravens were among 26 grand jury indictments announced at the county prosecutor's office Friday afternoon.
Other indictments included:
Alfred H. Martin III, 24, of 23939 Moyis Road, Coolville, was charged with a third-degree felony count of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, a third-degree felony count of vehicular assault and a fifth-degree felony count of failure to stop after an accident. While fleeing from an Ohio Highway Patrol trooper during a high-speed chase on July 23, Martin allegedly struck a motorcyclist along Washington County 3, then wrecked his own vehicle and fled on foot. He turned himself in a week later.
Ronald Schneeberger, 50, of Route 2, Box 317, Lot 30A, Parkersburg, was charged with two fifth-degree felony counts for nonsupport of dependents. Prosecutors said Schneeberger has not paid support for his two children for more than six months.
Samantha Streight, 22, of 312 Harmar St., Marietta, was charged with two fourth-degree felony counts of trafficking in heroin. She allegedly sold $400 worth of heroin to undercover agents in March 2009 and more recently sold agents another 12 units of the narcotic.
Lucas A. Heiss, 30, address unknown, and Sian Dye, 34, address unknown, were each charged with two second-degree felony counts of burglary and two fourth-degree felony counts of theft. Heiss and Dye were arrested July 26 at a Mineral Wells, W.Va., motel and accused of the burglary of a Waterford Road home.
Jason I. Moncman, 35, of Super 8, Room 318, 46 Acme St., Marietta, was charged with one fifth-degree felony count of theft and one fifth-degree felony count of forgery. While on post-release control from prison, Moncman allegedly tried to cash checks belonging to Travis Rector of Parkersburg.
Robert W. Farmer, 35, last known address 116 Harmar St., Marietta, was charged with two third-degree felony counts of trafficking in heroin in January and April.
Brandon L. Kennedy, 22, of 668 Hill Road, Cutler, was charged with one fifth-degree felony count of illegal cultivation of marijuana and one fourth-degree felony count of possession of cocaine, stemming from a Washington County sheriff's investigation in June.
Jessica D. Smith, 18, of 417 Unionville Road, McConnelsville, was charged with one fifth-degree felony count of theft, four fifth-degree felony counts of forgery and one fourth-degree felony count of illegal processing of drug documents. Smith allegedly stole and cashed or attempted to cash checks from the purse of a woman who gave her a ride to Morgan County in May. Smith was also found in possession of a prescription for Oxycontin that was written for a deceased person.
Christopher S. McLeod, 43, of 112 Devol Drive, Marietta, was charged with one fourth-degree felony count of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Alexis A. Randolph, 25, of 3411 Hemlock St., Parkersburg, was charged with one second-degree felony count of robbery, one third-degree felony count of robbery, one first-degree misdemeanor count of theft and one first-degree misdemeanor count of child endangering. Randolph is accused of two incidents of shoplifting on the same day at the Marietta Wal-Mart while her young child remained in a vehicle with the engine running.
Chadwick L. Smearman, 29, of 111 West Montgomery St., Lot 10, Marietta, was charged with a fifth-degree felony count of trafficking in cocaine and a fifth-degree felony count of possession of marijuana.
Travis E. Wineman, 30, of 201 Poplar Lane, Marietta, was charged with one fifth-degree felony count of receiving stolen property. While investigating a report that Wineman had threatened his girlfriend with a gun in July, police say they discovered he had a roomful of electronics devices allegedly stolen from several area women he had befriended.
Joshua L. Gore, 22, of 130 Cemetery Drive, New Matamoras, was charged with one fifth-degree felony count of possession of heroin. In August 2009, Gore was being investigated by Marietta police on suspicion of shoplifting when a hypodermic needle containing liquid heroin was allegedly discovered in his pocket.
Calvin C. Dixon, 23, of 123 Third St., Beverly, was charged with two first-degree felony counts of aggravated burglary and one second-degree count of felonious assault.
Victor Loscar, 23, of 1908 Latrobe St., Parkersburg, W.Va., was charged with one third-degree felony count of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer after allegedly driving erratically through Marietta and into Williamstown on July 12.
Arlan Kobusch, 41, of 830 Ridge St., Marietta, was charged with two second-degree felony counts for illegal assembly of chemicals or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of methamphetamine, stemming from an early August incident.
James E. Broadwater, 43, of 830 Ridge St., Marietta, was charged with two second-degree felony counts for illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of methamphetamine in the same August incident.
Patrick Marte, 25, of 407 Eighth St., Lot 6, Belpre, was charged with one third-degree felony count of complicity to commit intimidation of a witness and one fifth-degree felony count of complicity to commit obstruction of justice.
Matthew W. Adams, 26, of 100 1/2 Alderman St., Marietta, was charged with a third-degree felony count of failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer.
Brian K. Hitchcock, 31, of 309 1/2 Franklin St., Marietta, was charged with a third-degree felony count of burglary from an April 18 incident.
Denzel Jeffers, 25, of 278-B Ridgewood Drive, Marietta, was charged with a third-degree felony count of robbery.
