Published: September 10, 2009 09:49 pm      

28-year-old indicted on rape charge in Tazewell

TAZEWELL, Va. — A Bluefield, Va., man has been indicted by the Tazewell County grand jury on a charge of rape.

The grand jury sitting Tuesday in Tazewell indicted Jerry Thornton Shrader, 28, on one count of rape and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to Commonwealth Attorney Dennis Lee.

Lee said the alleged offense occurred on June 18, 2008, and involved a juvenile victim.

“The individual, Mr. Shrader, is charged with rape, and that carries up to life in prison (if convicted), and contributing to the delinquency of a minor,” Lee said. “It was investigated by the Virginia State Police.”

Lee said he couldn’t comment further regarding the indictment charge.

In a second unrelated case, three people were indicted by the grand jury in connection with a March 30 residential burglary and robbery where a firearm was discharged.

Jared Mikel Hall, 23, of Lebanon, Jennifer Erin Fletcher Johnson, 32, of Richlands, and Matthew Edward Shaw, 22, of Princeton, were all indicted by the grand jury on charges of conspiracy, statutory burglary, robbery, abduction, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony (two counts), wearing of a mask in public, and shooting from a motor vehicle.

“That was a residential burglary and robbery,” Lee said. “The victim called the police, and they were quickly apprehended, and were charged with some very serious charges.”

Lee said the three individuals who entered the house fled in a vehicle, and a shot was fired from the vehicle as they were leaving the scene of the crime.

Lee said the victim followed the three individuals, and made the phone call that resulted in the police being dispatched to the area. Lee said all three individuals were wearing masks when they entered the woman’s home.

Lee said the three face a potential maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on the robbery charge alone.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com