Published: January 08, 2009 04:03 pm      

Man with hepatitis C indicted for spitting on nurse

A local man who authorities say has a contagious disease has been indicted by the Cumberland County Grand Jury on a charge of aggravated assault for allegedly spitting on a nurse.

Richard Marlin Frazier faces the single felony count handed down by the panel on Jan. 6. An indictment is not a finding of guilt, but represents the panel's collective belief that there exists enough evidence to warrant further legal action up to and including a trial.

The indictment states that on May 3, a man identified as Frazier caused Cumberland Medical Center nurse Kim Simmons to "reasonably fear imminent bodily injury while utilizing a deadly weapon, to-wit: blood and saliva infected with hepatitis C ..."

Witnesses to the incident were identified on the document as Simmons and Deputy Sgt. James Scott.

Hepatitis C is a blood-bourne infectious viral disease that affects the liver. The infection is often asymptomatic, but once established, chronic infection can cause inflammation of the liver (chronic hepatitis). This condition can progress to scarring of the liver (fibrosis), and advanced scarring (cirrhosis). In some cases, those with cirrhosis will go on to develop liver failure or other complications of cirrhosis, including liver cancer. No vaccine against hepatitis C is available.

No other information was available concerning the incident. Arraignment is set for Frazier and the defendants listed in the below unrelated cases for Jan. 23.

Burglary/theft

•Kevin Shane Price, auto burglary, theft more than $1,000 and vandalism less than $500.

Sex offenses

•Gregory Scott Kunis, violation of the sex offender registry law.

Assault

•Richard Marlin Frazier, aggravated assault.

Methamphetamine

•Amanda Nicole Kemmer, initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine.

Driving under the influence

•Worth Braxton Johnson Jr., fourth offense driving under the influence, second offense driving on a revoked license, leaving the scene of an accident and refusing an intoximeter test.

•John C. Slaven, fifth offense driving under the influence.

•Douglas Edward Mackie, fourth offense driving under the influence.

•Dennis William Beals, driving under the influence and possession of Xanax.

•Thomas R. Nale, fifth offense driving under the influence, third offense driving on a revoked license and refusing an intoximeter test.

•Gregory Lawson Oakes, third offense driving under the influence and evading arrest.

•David Kirby Schalchter, third offense driving under the influence, evading arrest, driving on a revoked license and refusing an intoximeter test.

•James Timothy Crawford, driving under the influence.

•Job Mark Steerman, fourth offense driving under the influence, third offense driving on a revoked license and refusing an intoximeter test.

Drug charges

•Worth Braxton Johnson, simple possession of marijuana.

•Israel Lee Cox, simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

•Laura Lucille Landherr, possession of marijuana for resale and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Miscellaneous offenses

•Gary Allen Woody, violation order of protection. Also, second indictment on the same charge.

•Woodrow Wilson Parker Jr., hindering a secured creditor.