"Operation Coal Country" ends in nearly sixty fugitive arrests in southern West Virginia
Operation Coal Country ends in nearly sixty arrests
Robert Fields | WVOW News
CHARLESTON Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies made 59 arrests during a multi-week enforcement operation targeting fugitives, sex offender registration violations and other criminal offenses across southern West Virginia.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia Moore Capito announced the results last week alongside U.S. Marshal Jack Chambers, West Virginia State Police Colonel James Mitchell and other law enforcement partners. Operation Coal Country began August 13 and concluded last week.
The arrests include 16 convicted sex offenders wanted for registration violations and 10 individuals charged with new sex offenses. State Police conducted more than 380 compliance checks of registered sex offenders during the operation.
Capito said during the announcement last week that compliance isn’t a request.
"Registration and compliance is not optional," he said.
"Our office takes that seriously. Our children are our future, and we stick to that in our office and throughout this state."
The enforcement effort focused heavily on the West Virginia State Police Troop 5 area, which includes Boone, Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo and Wayne counties. The announcement was also attended by county prosecuting attorneys from those counties, including Logan County Prosecutor David Wandling.
Other arrests involved federal drug charges, alleged supervised release violations and alleged violations of federal pretrial release conditions.
Among those arrested was 31-year-old Clinton G. McNeely of Lyburn. A federal grand jury indicted McNeely on August 18 on charges including sexual exploitation of a minor, receipt or attempted receipt of child pornography, possession of child pornography and production of obscene material. He was arrested August 20.
The operation also led to the capture of a fugitive wanted for murder in Florida, the arrest in Arizona of a suspect wanted in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of a female juvenile family member in Parkersburg, and the recovery of a missing child following an alleged parental abduction in Wood County.
Investigators seized 75.1 grams of fentanyl, 1.54 kilograms of methamphetamine, 33.3 grams of cocaine, approximately 6,000 dollars, one firearm and assorted ammunition.
The operation was led by the U.S. Marshals Service Southern District of West Virginia CUFFED Task Force and West Virginia State Police, with assistance from federal, state and local agencies.
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