Published: July 23, 2009 09:35 pm      

Man found guilty in 2001 slaying

WELCH – After deliberating for two hours, a McDowell County jury decided Thursday that a Virginia man should face life in prison with no chance for parole for his part in the 2001 murder of a 22-year-old woman.

Amos Gabriel Hicks, 45, of Whitewood, Va., was found guilty of murder in the first-degree, malicious assault and conspiracy to commit murder, said Prosecuting Attorney Sid Bell. The jury did not recommend mercy with Hicks’ sentencing, meaning he could face life in prison with no possibility of parole.

Hicks was taken into custody after the jury rendered its verdict.

“He had been out on bond, so based on the verdict, I made a motion to the court to revoke his pre-trial bond. This was granted and he was committed to the Southwestern Regional Jail in Logan County,” Bell said.

Hicks was charged in November 2008 with murder and the other charges in connection with the May 13, 2001 shooting death of Jamie Chantel Webb of Raysal, Va. Jeffrey Mullins, 30, of Raysal and Don Ball, 44, of Jolo were also hit when shots were fired at Payne Fork Road near Jolo.

Webb was hit in the head and hip area by shots from a 9 mm pistol. Mullins was shot in the head and Ball received multiple wounds, but both men survived.

Mullins testified during Hicks’ trial, but Ball had been injured in a “totally unrelated car accident” and was unable to appear in court, Bell said Thursday.

Information about the circumstances behind the shooting was presented during the trial.

“Our evidence was that the motive was to retaliate against the victims for allegedly breaking into the defendant’s home and stealing some guns,” Bell said. “And there was a necklace, too, a gold necklace. The case involved some evidence of drug activity.”

The shooter, Mose Douglas Mullins Jr., 42, testified that he sold oxycodone for Hicks and was deeply in debt to him. In another part of his testimony, Mullins said Hicks provided him both with money and the hand gun to carry out the plan, Bell stated.

“So he took up the offer to be paid $5,000 for each of these people,” Bell said. “Jamie Chantel Webb and Jeffrey Mullins were the targets. Don Ball happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Mullins pleaded guilty in 2002 to second-degree murder and two counts of malicious wounding. He is currently serving a prison sentence of 44 to 60 years.

A second man in the case, James Blaine “Rusty” Waldon, 42, of Bradshaw cooperated with investigators and led them to the murder weapon, Waldon was convicted by a jury of voluntary manslaughter; he was later sentenced to seven years imprisonment and is currently on parole. Hicks was arrested in Whitewood, Va. on Oct. 23, 2008.

“Our investigating officers were State Police Corporal Jason Cooper and Mike Spradlin, the prosecuting attorney’s investigator,” Bell said.

Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 23.

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com