Connect with us

Crime/Court

Serious Charges Highlight Warren County Grand Jury Indictments

Published

on

A wide range of felony indictments was handed down by the Warren County Circuit Court grand jury during its January and April 2026 terms, reflecting cases involving violent crime, drug offenses, fraud, and law enforcement incidents.

Among the most serious charges, Peter Elijah Skube was indicted on counts of forcible sodomy and object sexual penetration tied to an April 2025 incident. In a separate case, John Andrew Reel faces multiple felony charges, including rape, strangulation causing injury, and abduction, stemming from a November 2025 incident.

Drug-related offenses made up a significant portion of the indictments. More than a dozen individuals were charged with felony possession of controlled substances across both grand jury terms. In one case, Robert Michael Riley faces not only a possession charge but also an additional count of manufacturing or distributing a controlled substance.

The indictments also include several fraud and financial crime cases. Gary Wayne Wright was charged with obtaining money by false pretenses and conspiracy to commit fraud. Nicole Renee Watson faces a charge related to a forged check. In the April term, Brandy Lynn Knight was indicted for forgery, while Walter Scott Kradel faces a series of felony charges, including forgery, identity theft, credit card theft, and multiple conspiracy-related offenses.

Other cases involve public safety and interactions with law enforcement. Madeline Lizette Schlegel was indicted for felony DUI and assault and battery of a law enforcement officer. Donnell Manuel Turner faces a felony hit-and-run charge involving injury or significant property damage.

Several indictments stem from vehicle-related offenses, including charges of felony eluding police against David Whitfield, Joshua Shayne Patterson, and Ethan Michael Higgs. Spencer Brent Cave was charged with grand larceny of a motor vehicle.

One case also involves the alleged distribution of drugs to a minor. Kurt Michael Jankowski was indicted on a charge of distributing marijuana to a person under 18.

All indictments from the January term were returned as “true bills” on March 9, 2026, while the April term indictments were issued on April 6, 2026. These indictments are formal accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Individuals Indicted and Charges:

Peter Elijah Skube — Forcible sodomy; object sexual penetration

John Andrew Reel — Rape; strangulation causing injury; abduction

Andrew Brandon Holloway — Possession of a controlled substance

Ronald Alexandria Robinson — Possession of a controlled substance

Emily Sarah Morris — Possession of a controlled substance

Robert Michael Riley — Possession of a controlled substance; manufacture/distribution of a controlled substance

Nichole Dawn Polk — Possession of a controlled substance

Patrick Bishop Munson — Possession of a controlled substance

Jessica Nicole Rogers — Possession of a controlled substance

Sinda Lea Reifel — Possession of a controlled substance

Dwight Eric Maynard II — Possession of a controlled substance

Zachary E. Cassella — Possession of a controlled substance

Michael Brandon Mazique — Possession of a controlled substance

Ashley Ann Robinson — Possession of a controlled substance

Justin Jeffrey Elder — Possession of controlled substance (two indictments)

Ronald Dale Whittaker Jr. — Possession of a controlled substance

Kurt Michael Jankowski — Distribution of marijuana to a minor

Nicole Renee Watson — Uttering/attempting to use a forged check

Brandy Lynn Knight — Forgery/uttering forged document

Walter Scott Kradel — Forgery; conspiracy to commit forgery; identity theft/financial fraud; attempted grand larceny; credit card theft; conspiracy

Madeline Lizette Schlegel — Felony DUI; assault and battery of a law enforcement officer

Spencer Brent Cave — Grand larceny of a motor vehicle

Joshua Shayne Patterson — Felony eluding police

Ethan Michael Higgs — Felony eluding police

Donnell Manuel Turner — Felony hit-and-run

Photos not available

  • Gary Wayne Wright — Obtaining money by false pretenses; conspiracy to commit fraud
  • David Whitfield — Felony eluding police
  • Joshua Shayne Patterson — Felony eluding police

 

Photos courtesy of RSW Jail.

Front Royal, VA
64°
Fair
6:15 am8:04 pm EDT
Feels like: 64°F
Wind: 11mph W
Humidity: 35%
Pressure: 29.81"Hg
UV index: 7
FriSatSun
66°F / 46°F
59°F / 41°F
64°F / 45°F
Regional News48 minutes ago

Suspect in Washington Press Dinner Attack to Remain Detained in D.C. Jail

Top Stories3 hours ago

Watch Live – Front Royal

Community Events3 hours ago

Dinner, Drama, and a Deadly Twist: ‘Murder Me, Always’ Comes to Front Royal

Opinion4 hours ago

These Times They Are a Changing

Interesting Things to Know5 hours ago

Does a Celebrity Share Your May Birthday?

Local News7 hours ago

YOVASO Summer Retreat at JMU Offers Teens Leadership and Safety Training

Local News7 hours ago

Barlow Will Not Seek Office After Redistricting, Shifts Focus to Advocacy

Interesting Things to Know7 hours ago

Perfection Paralysis: When the Pursuit of Perfect Stops Progress

State News7 hours ago

New State Law Mandates Review of Dominion’s Load Forecasting, as Data Centers Raise Concerns

Interesting Things to Know7 hours ago

Recalling the Events of Our Lives: Half a Century Since the Vietnam War

Obituaries21 hours ago

Roy Nelson Murphy (1943 – 2026)

Obituaries22 hours ago

AMCM (Ret) Dominick ‘Nick’ Bucci (1946 – 2026)

Local Government22 hours ago

Supervisors Vote on a Number of Budget-Related Items and Send Another Back to Planning Commission for Public Hearing

Local Government22 hours ago

Tax Vote and Public Messaging Take Center Stage at Front Royal Council Meeting

Regional News1 day ago

US Supreme Court Limits Use of Race in Congressional District Remaps, Diluting Voting Rights Act

Regional News1 day ago

King Charles III in Historic Speech to Congress Cites ‘Checks and Balances’ on Executive Power

Opinion1 day ago

The Destruction of Warren County

Community Events1 day ago

Samuels Public Library Plans Busy May with Events for All Ages

Opinion1 day ago

Preserve Warren County: Standing for Our Land, Our Voice, Our Future

Historically Speaking1 day ago

Revisiting the End of History

State News1 day ago

Here’s What House Lawmakers Want to Require of Data Centers to Keep Their Sales Tax Break

Business1 day ago

Full-Time or Part-Time? How to Decide When Hiring Your Next Employee

Interesting Things to Know1 day ago

A Different Look at Happiness: What to Stop Doing

Community Events2 days ago

Samuels Public Library Adult Programming Events for May

Local News2 days ago

Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: Red Fox