Published: May 12, 2008 04:13 pm         

Yerian reindicted in Pugh slaying; victim's girlfriend added as conspirator

The man investigators say pulled the trigger of the gun used to kill a Cumberland County man has been reindicted in the 2007 slaying and the victim's girlfriend has been added as a co-conspirator.

Stephen Michael Yerian, 31, Midway Rd., was formerly charged with first-degree murder in a March indictment handed down this year. Now he faces that charge and a new charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder of Samuel Pugh Jr., 37, Lantana Rd.

Also charged in the superceding indictment issued by the grand jury May 6 is Heather Brewer, 33, Webb Loop, who also faces the two charges. Yerian has been in jail since his November arrest, unable to post bond. Brewer's bond was set by the grand jury at $30,000 and she remains in jail as of press time.

The two are accused in the indictment of "each agreeing that one or more of them will kill Pugh." The indictment goes on to identify Yerian as the person who allegedly pulled the trigger on the weapon used to kill Pugh during the early morning hours of Nov. 17, 2007.

The victim was found by family members about mid-day on that date and investigators stated it appeared that Pugh had been shot in the head as he slept on a sofa.

Yerian was arrested on a warrant signed by Special Agent Tommy Callahan a few hours after the body was discovered.

Both defendants along with those listed below are to appear in Cumberland County Criminal Court May 23 for arraignment on the new charges.

Sex offenses

•Edward Bering Hitchcock, sexual exploitation of a minor.

•George D. Walker, sexual battery and aggravated criminal trespass.

Burglary/theft/forgery

•Katrina Marie Mosley, seven counts of forgery and seven counts of passing a forged document.

•Adam Alexander Mullins, burglary, possession of burglary tools and driving on a suspended license.

•George Lee Skinner, theft less than $500. Separate case, theft more than $1,000.

•Derrick York Sherrill, theft more than $1,000.

•Jason Lee Norris, theft more than $1,000 and conspiracy to commit theft more than $1,000.

•Erica Gilley, theft more than $1,000 and conspiracy to commit theft more than $1,000.

Drug charges

•Tony Rasso, possession of marijuana for resale and reckless driving.

•Adam Brian Smith, possession of methamphetamine for resale.

•Anthony Scott Woody, promotion of the manufacture of methamphetamine and driving on a revoked license. Separate case, promotion of the manufacture of methamphetamine. Separate case, promotion of the manufacture of methamphetamine, simple possession of marijuana, simple possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, no proof of insurance and driving on a revoked license.

Assaults

•Donnie Dewayne Davenport, domestic assault.

•Anthony Scott Woody, resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a revoked license.

Driving under the influence

•Dean Arthur Day, second offense driving under the influence.

•Shana Renee Elmore, also known as Shana Renee Elmore Hinch, driving under the influence and possession of drug paraphernalia.

•Matthew Dwayne Hilton, second offense driving under the influence.

•Patty Sue Mincks, driving under the influence, no proof of insurance and violation of the seat belt law.

Driving offenses

•Ray Maurice Martin, third offense driving on a suspended license.

No true bill

The grand jury found that there was not sufficient evidence in the following case and this case has been dismissed. Defendant must appear in court May 23 to formally have the charges against them dropped.

•Gerald Marshall Holloway, assault.