BLOUNTVILLE — A Kingsport couple accused of abandoning a 4-year-old boy at a Walmart in the middle of the night in November 2011 after using bath salts and Lortab have been indicted on a child neglect charge.
A Sullivan County grand jury on Tuesday indicted Jordon E. Finehout, 26, and Jessica N. Fleenor, 28, each of 737 Bluff Road, Kingsport, on attempt to commit child neglect, a Class E felony. Finehout was also indicted on a charge of possession of a prohibited weapon, identified as a butterfly knife.
According to court records, the boy wandered into Walmart, 3200 Fort Henry Drive, at 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 30, 2011.
Kingsport police responded to the store at 2:50 a.m. and observed surveillance footage that showed him in the company of a man and woman — later identified as Finehout and Fleenor — and a female toddler. The group were last spotted in the store at 1 a.m.
At 4:10 a.m., Fleenor called Walmart to advise she had “lost” her son there, but her vehicle had run out of gas as they were returning to the store.
A Sullivan County deputy reported he had stopped to assist the couple on John B. Dennis Highway at Orebank Road, and they hadn’t mentioned missing a child in the 15 minutes before Kingsport police arrived at their location. A 1-year-old girl was in the van with them at that time.
Police report Finehout and Fleenor appeared to be under the influence, and Finehout allegedly admitted they had been using bath salts and Lortab.
Police said two containers of bath salts and a butterfly knife were found in Finehout’s possession, while Fleenor was found with synthetic marijuana and half a white pill, identified as carisoprodol.
A Tennessee Department of Children’s Services representative was called to John B. Dennis Highway to take custody of the 1-year-old, then traveled to Walmart to pick up the other child.
The boy’s father also responded to Walmart, where he advised police that Fleenor had called him at 4:10 a.m. and told him she had lost their son.
The couple were originally arrested and charged with child abuse and neglect. Fleenor had also been charged with possession of a legend drug, but that charge was not bound over for the grand jury’s consideration.
Others indicted Tuesday and their charges include:
• Karim Abdullah Hasan, 41, Charlotte, N.C., criminal simulation, identity theft, theft $1,000 or more.
• Richard Lee Davis, 43, 4912 Druid Hills, Kingsport, home improvement fraud.
• Willy J. Hall, 25, 2104 Fort Henry Drive, Kingsport, theft over $500.
• Jerome H. Ball, 34, 1658 Echo Court, Kingsport, domestic assault, possession of marijuana.
• Shannon Lee Graham, 40, 125 Wampler Road, Bristol, Tenn., evading arrest.
• Travis B. Benton, 29, 1351 W. Carters Valley, Apt. 1, Kingsport, criminal simulation.
• Dina Lee Wright, 34, 1270 Volunteer Parkway, C-22, Bristol, Tenn., false report.
• Leslie Stuart Vannoy, 41, 1317 Edgemont Ave., Bristol, Tenn., aggravated domestic assault.
• John A. Lane, 34, 432 Gaines St., Kingsport, possession of Schedule III controlled substance.
• Kayla Ann Sluder, 22, 400 17th St., Bristol, Tenn., child neglect, aggravated child neglect.
• Earl A. Aneas, 51, 1408 Belmeade Place, Kingsport, aggravated assault.
• Tony Marvin Gibson, 46, 425 Shadowtown Road, Blountville, theft $1,000 or more.
• James Lane Hager, 24, 520 Hooker Road, Blountville, burglary, theft $1,000 or more, vandalism $1,000 or more.
• Benjamin Brad Roberts, 32, 211 Pink Dogwood Circle, Bristol, Tenn., possession of Schedule VI controlled substance, evading arrest.
• Chris A. Barfield, 29, 1534 Waverly Road, Apt. 6, Kingsport, aggravated assault, assault (five counts), disorderly conduct, public intoxication, evading arrest, resisting arrest.
• Jamie L. Roberts, 29, 112 Morelock St., Kingsport, false report.
• Jordan L. Lawson, 19, 928 Ashley Court, Church Hill, theft $1,000 or more.
• Tanya L. Hicks, 28, 526 Church Lane, Lot 10, Church Hill, public intoxication.
• Brian Allen Crable, 21, 910 Robertson St., Kingsport, theft over $1,000.
• Jerry A. Gregg, 23, 3512 Forestview Road, Lot 9, Kingsport, auto burglary and theft $500 or less (two counts each), vandalism $500 or less.
• Nikisha Harvey, 25, 927 Larry Neil Way, Apt. 1, Kingsport, possession of Schedule III controlled substance for delivery or sale.
• James Franklin Puckett Jr., 26, 542 Virgil Ave., Kingsport, violation of community supervision, theft $1,000 or more.
• Joshua G. Redman, 28, 601 S. Mckee St., Greeneville, aggravated assault (two counts), evading arrest, resisting arrest, DUI, violation of open container law.
• James Brian Booher, 40, 656 Mountain View Road, No. 44, Bluff City, theft over $1,000, aggravated burglary, theft over $1,000 (separate case, two counts), vandalism $500 or less.
• Rhudy Lee Wyatt Jr., 35, Ceres, Va., theft over $1,000.
• Brandon Lynn Bowers, 22, 1272 Reedy Creek Road, Bristol, Tenn., DUI.