Courts

By LARRY CHAMBERS
Staff

INDEPENDENCE — Five Grayson County Circuit Court grand jury indictments have been unsealed and the suspects arrested.
An indictment is a formal charge, not a finding of guilt.
Indictments include:
• Edward Dean Howard Jr., 34, of Independence — one count of assault by mob. The indictment accuses Howard of being a member of a mob to maliciously shoot, stab, cut or wound Jesus Herrera Ramirez.

MARION — A 37-year-old Galax man has been indicted on two charges each of abduction and conspiracy in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a 19-year-old Marion man.
Michael Ray Brown Jr., of Spring Street in Galax, faces a week-long trial in Smyth County Circuit Court, starting Nov. 28, along with four other suspects.

Editor’s Note: This information is taken from open court records and is a matter of public record.  
The listings are complete. The newspaper, as a matter of fairness, will not honor requests to omit any listing.  
For information on this column or questions, call 236-5178, ext. 213.

Land Transfers

These land transfers were recorded March 22-April 7 in the office of Carolyn H. Honeycutt, clerk of the Carroll County Circuit Court, Hillsville: