SEXUAL ABUSE CASES WILL GO TO GRAND JURY - Stolen Auto Found In River

(10/25/2003)
Two Calhoun men charged with sexual abuse of a seven-year-old, waived their preliminary hearing yesterday before Magistrate Teresa Robinson. Cases against Matthew Verbus, 32, and Brandon Rose, 19, will go before the Calhoun County Grand Jury in January.

Charges were brought against the pair by Sgt. D. H. Campbell of the West Virginia State Police, after the child's father filed a complaint. Campbell said both men confessed to the charge on an audio tape.

Verbus faces $13,000 to $40,000 in fines and 46 to 110 years in the state penitentiary if he is found guilty on all counts. He has three counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count of first-degree sexual abuse for fondling and having sexual relations with a seven-year-old male.

Rose has been charged with first degree sexual abuse. If convicted, he faces at least $10,000 in fines and one to five years in the penitentiary.

Rose and Verbus are in the Central Regional Jail. Rose is there on a $5,000 bond, while Verbus needs to post a $20,000 bond to be released.

Verbus was represented by a court appointed attorney Dennis Curry and Rose was represented by Public Defender Shannon Baldwin.

POLICE BRIEFS

Authorities are investigating the discovery of a stolen car found in the river near Creston on Tuesday, a '94 red Grand Am that was reported stolen in Grantsville.

Sgt. D. H. Campbell said the State Police are looking into an obscene phone call that was made to a female 911 dispatcher at Calhoun Control last weekend. The caller reportedly called the center after the midnight shift came on duty.