Published: September 25, 2009 11:08 pm      

Charges against Buchanan County man certified to grand jury

GRUNDY, Va. — A Buchanan County man who is under investigation by law enforcement officers who are investigating the Aug. 6, murders of three people in the Hurley, Va., area, appeared in Buchanan County General District Court Thursday for a preliminary hearing on unrelated charges.

Frank Carl Thomas Junior, 35, also known as “Snake,” appeared for his preliminary hearing for felony charges of carjacking, robbery and two counts of conspiracy, according to a press release issued by Buchanan County Commonwealth’s Attorney Tamara Neo. All of those felony counts were successfully certified to the Buchanan County grand jury, according to the press release.

In addition to the preliminary hearing on the new felony charges, Thomas was found guilty at the hearing of one-count of misdemeanor assault by mob, stemming from a May 16, incident in the Hurley area, according to the press release. The court sentenced Thomas to a 12-month-sentence on that count of conviction.

Neo explained that a “misdemeanor assault by mob” charge is essentially an assault charge when the assault is committed by at least one or more additional people.

“I am pleased at the court’s ruling in this carjacking, conspiracy and robbery charges and will be presenting those matters to the county’s grand jury in a future term,” Meo was quoted in the press release as stating. “It is also my understanding that he has now been federally indicted for drug charges, and a charge involving his possession of a weapon after being a convicted felon.”

According to the press release from Neo’s office, Thomas’ preliminary hearing was moved to the District courtroom due to security concerns, but did not elaborate on those concerns. Neo did, however, note that the investigation of Thomas for the Aug. 6, murders of Roger Justice, 48, his wife, Janice Maybell Griffey Justice, 57, both of Knox Creek Rd., Hurley, and Timothy Dale Blankenship, 40, also of Hurley, remains “extremely active,” according to the press release.

Neo said that Thomas remains held without bond.

– Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com