WILLIAMSON – A 61-year-old man has been indicted by the Mingo County Grand Jury on multiple counts of sexually abusing three young children, and the female parent and custodian of two of the youngsters is charged with gross child neglect.

The Grand Jury reported its findings to Chief Judge Michael Thornsbury late Tuesday afternoon in Mingo County Circuit Court after an abbreviated session. Thirteen other indictments are sealed until those charged are in custody.

Lewis Allen Sheppard of Dingess is charged with three counts of intentionally and feloniously engaging in sexual contact with three victims in April 2007. The youngsters were less than 12 years of age and thereby incapable of consent, according to the indictments.

Misty Adkins, 31, of Duncan Fork, identified as a parent and custodian of two of the minor children, is accused of unlawful and felonious gross neglect of two of the minor children and, by such neglect, created a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or of death to the minor victims.

The grand jury returned the Sheppard and Adkins indictments upon information provided by Jeannie Curry, Child Protective Service Worker, in sworn testimony before the jury.

Mingo County Prosecu-ting Attorney C. Michael Sparks said “this grand jury’s outstanding energy and efficiency have made it possible to obtain an unprecedented 107 indictments during the January 2009 term, including 88 drug indictments.

Judge Thornsbury said arraignments of those indicted will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday. He added that the various cases will be set for trial in May.

Sparks said Lt. C.D. Rockel of the Williamson Police Department, and Trooper B.R. Moore, Trooper 1-c. D.C. Kuhn and Cpl. S.T. Harper of the West Virginia State Police “continue to go above and beyond the call of duty. Operation G-2 has been and continues to be an overwhelming success.”

He expressed his gratitude for a dedicated staff that went the extra mile during this extraordinarily busy term.

“Finally, I commend Judge Thornsbury for no circuit judge in the state of West Virginia works harder or manages a criminal docket more proficiently,” said the prosecutor.

Commenting on the numerous felony drug convictions that have been obtained this year, Sparks pointed out that “Drugs destroy our communities, endanger our families and cause our jails to be filled with squandered lives. We remain hopeful that our aggressive drug enforcement program will deter drug trafficking and result in a safer Mingo County.”