West Logan man accused of sexually abusing great-granddaughter

A Logan County man has been charged after DNA evidence connected him to the alleged sexual abuse of a child relative.

Court records say 84-year-old Jerry Hainer is accused of sexually abusing his great-granddaughter in December 2025 while she was visiting him at his home in West Logan.

Robert Fields | WVOW News

WEST LOGAN According to deputies, 84-year-old Jerry Hainer was charged on April 16 with sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, or person in a position of trust.

Investigators say the alleged incident occurred on December 11, 2025, after the 7-year-old child visited Hainer’s home in the West Logan area. According to a criminal complaint obtained by WVOW News, Deputy R.D. Allen with the Logan County Sheriff's Department responded to a call in the late-night hours of December 11 and made contact with the victim’s mother.

Concerns were raised when the child reportedly told her mother that her great-grandfather had been getting “weirder and weirder.” The mother reported that her daughter described instances of sexual abuse. When asked if Hainer had placed his hands under her clothing, the child reportedly responded with a hand gesture that was interpreted to mean "a little bit."

Hainer was questioned the following day by Deputy Allen and Deputy H.S. Workman, during which he claimed that the child displayed behavioral issues and would attempt to kiss him on the mouth. Deputies asked Hainer if the child had ever gone without clothing while at his residence, to which he responded that his wife would not allow it. Upon further questioning, however, he admitted to an instance where the child had removed her pants and allegedly jumped onto his shoulders.

The criminal complaint says Hainer claimed that any interactions between the two during that instance had been innocent in nature.

Court documents state that search warrants were executed for the collection of DNA from both Hainer and the victim. Results from the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory shared with deputies on March 4 showed the victim's underwear tested positive for Hainer's saliva, which were consistent with the description of the assault provided by the girl. The results were corroborated on April 15, when further testing showed a DNA profile consistent with Hainer's both on the inside and the outside of the garment.

According to magistrate court records, Hainer was arraigned on Wednesday, April 22, and a $50,000 bond was posted the same day. As part of his bond conditions, Hainer remains on home confinement pending further proceedings.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

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