Tennis Maynard

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Rachel Baldwin

Staff Writer

WILLIAMSON - The Mingo County Grand Jury convened on Monday, with Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge Paul T. Ferrell presiding on special assignment regarding the indictment of Tennis Melvin Maynard, the Delbarton resident accused of fatally shooting Sheriff Eugene Crum on April 3, and attempting to kill a deputy.

A true bill was returned against Maynard, who remains hospitalized in the Cabell Huntington Hospital where he has been a patient since being shot by a Mingo County Sheriff’s Department officer after he crashed into a bridge in Delbarton while attempting to flee from the law, the day of Sheriff Crum’s murder. Maynard allegedly pulled his handgun on the officer and was then shot multiple times. The deputy was uninjured.

The indictment reads as follows:

(Count I; 1st Degree Murder, possible life sentence) Tennis Melvin Maynard, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2013, in Mingo County, did unlawfully, knowingly, intentionally, willfully, maliciously, deliberately, premeditatedly and feloniously murder Sheriff Eugene Crum, against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.

(Count II; Attempt to commit 1st Degree Murder, 3-15 years) The defendant, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2013, in Mingo County, did unlawfully, intentionally and feloniously attempt to murder Corporal Norman Mines by pointing a loaded firearm directly at the officer after Corporal Mines pursued and stopped Tennis Melvin Maynard’s vehicle in connection with the murder of Sheriff Eugene Crum, but fell short of murdering Corporal Norman Mines, against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.

(Count III; fleeing/reckless indifference, 1-5 years) On or about the 3rd day of April, 2013, in Mingo County, Tennis Melvin Maynard did unlawfully, knowingly, intentionally and feloniously operate a vehicle in a matter showing reckless indifference to the safety of others while fleeing from Corporal Norman Mines acting in an official capacity after Corporal Mines gave a clear, visual and audible signal directing Maynard to stop, against the peace and dignity of the State of West Virginia.

Testimony was provided by Williamson Police Chief C.D. Rockel and West Virginia State Police 1st Sgt. C.E. Stump.

Maynard is scheduled to be arraigned on these three charges before Judge Ferrell following his discharge from Cabell Huntington Hospital.