SALYERSVILLE – A Magoffin County grand jury released the following three indictments on Thursday, April 6:
Marcus Sparks, 36, of Kel Patton Branch, in Salyersville, is charged with second-degree assault (a Class C felony); third-degree terroristic threatening (Class A misdemeanor); unauthorized use of motor vehicle, first offense (Class A misdemeanor); and menacing (Class B misdemeanor). According to the indictment, on or about February 10 through 11, 2023, Sparks allegedly wantonly caused serious physical injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument, threatened to cause serious physical injury or substantial property damage to another person, and used a vehicle without the consent of the owner. The indictment also alleges that Sparks intentionally placed another person, listed as Magoffin County Sheriff Bill Meade, in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury.
Benji Salyers, also known as Benji Manns, 47, of Salyersville, is charged with second-degree assault (Class C felony). According to the indictment, on or about February 6, 2023, Salyers/Manns allegedly intentionally caused serious physical injury to another person by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument.
Courtney Arnett, of Stambaugh, KY, is charged with knowingly abuse/exploitation of an adult (Class C felony) and theft by failure to make required disposition of property (Class C felony). According to the indictment, on or about December 1, 2018, through January 2019, Arnett allegedly abused and/or exploited an adult in excess of $300, as well as obtained property subject to a known legal obligation to make specified payment or disposition from such property, intentionally dealing with the property as her own and failing to make the required disposition, a sum in excess of $10,000. For more on Arnett’s case, see the Attorney General’s Office’s press release below.
Warrants were issued for all three defendants indicted last week, which have all been served as of press time.
Editor’s Note: The indictment or charge of a person by a grand jury or otherwise is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
From Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s Office:
Woman indicted for allegedly exploiting vulnerable adult
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced on Tuesday this week that an investigation and prosecution by his Medicaid Fraud Unit led to the indictment of Courtney Arnett, 31, of Stambaugh, for exploitation of an adult.
On April 6, 2023, a Magoffin County Grand Jury indicted Arnett on one count of Knowingly Exploiting an Adult (Class C Felony) and one count of Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition of Property (Class C Felony). According to the indictment, from December 2018 to January 2019, Arnett exploited the finances of a vulnerable adult.
This case was investigated by Detective Justin Cooley of the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Unit. Assistant Attorney General Lindon Gullett presented the case before the Magoffin County Grand Jury on behalf of the Commonwealth.
The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Control receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $6,333,333 for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2023. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $1,583,333 for FY 2023, is funded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
The charges in an indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
