Four men are in jail following what West Virginia State Police (WVSP) referred to as a home invasion Sunday night in Mingo County, when the men allegedly beat a man and raped his girlfriend.

At approximately 11:30 p.m., July 12, four males allegedly kicked open the door to Terry Bowles residence at Right Hand Fork in Baisden, and beat Bowles with a tire iron before taking $2,500 in currency and Oxycontin, according to WVSP.

Willie Wayne McCoy, 31, of Detroit Mich.; Casey James Behelar II, 28, of Gilbert; Chester Shirley Lester, 20, of Baisden; and Joshua Cantrell, 19, of Wharncliffe, are all facing charges of burglary, first degree robbery, kidnapping, grand larceny, first degree sexual assault, malicious wounding, and conspiracy have been arrested in connection to the incident.

While inside the residence, McCoy found a semi-automactic pistol and threatened Bowles and a 24-year-old female, whose name is not being released by police. McCoy then handed the gun to Cantrell who made Bowles lay on the ground, while McCoy took the female in another room and sexually assaulted her, said Sgt. Baylous, WVSP public information officer.

Reports from the state police also state Jimmy Keith West arrived at the residence during the incident and was also beaten with a tire iron.

Police stated that Lester and Behelar assisted as the look-out and driver.

Senior Trooper L.T. Goldie was called to the scene first following the incident. Goldie contacted Sgt. L.G. O'Brien, who called all Gilbert officers out to look for the suspects.

The men were located at a residence at Big Lick Road on Baisden where police reported gathering some evidence.

Sgt. O'Brien said the crime is out-of-the-ordinary for southern West Virginia and police will be taking the case very seriously.

Circuit Court Judge Michael Thornsbury set bonds for the accused Monday morning.

McCoy received a bond of $150,000 for burglary; $300.000 for first degree robbery; $50,000 for grand larceny; $500,000 for first degree sexual assault; $50,000 for malicious wounding; and $50,000 for conspiracy for each individual charge. McCoy is being held without bail for kidnapping.

The other three defendants received bonds of $75,000 for burglary; $200,000 for first degree burglary; $20,000 for grand larceny; $125,000 for sexual assault; $20,000 for malicious assault; and $50,000 for conspiracy for each individual charge. They are also being held without bond for kidnapping.

Search warrants were obtained to search for forensic evidence for sexual assault, according to the complaint.

"This is a pretty clear-cut case and we have the right people," said O'Brien. "This is a really violent thug-type crime, remorseless and cruel and I really think the Judge has took the appropriate action with the bonds."

Mingo County Prosecu-ting Attorney Michael Sparks said Mingo County has had a minimal number of violent crimes over the past few years, but in the past month two severe crimes have occurred — this crime and a murder in the Kermit area.

Sparks commended the officers for their diligent investigation in the this latest case.

(Editors Note: All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.)