Former pastor arraigned on indictment
ELKINS -- A former Elkins pastor entered a plea of not guilty to the four charges against him during an arraignment hearing Tuesday afternoon.
Kevin Curtis Jones, 34, of Elkins, appeared in Randolph County Circuit Court on Tuesday for an arraignment hearing where he plead not guilty to the four charges brought forward by the Randolph County Grand Jury in June. Representing Jones was attorney Alex Harclerode. The state was represented by special prosecutor Gabrielle “Gabe” Mucciola, the Prosecuting Attorney of Monongalia County. Randolph County Circuit Court Judge Jaymie Wilfong presided over the hearing.
In June, Jones was indicted on one count of soliciting a minor via computer; one count of distribution and exhibiting of material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct or computer-generated child pornography; one count of delivery of a controlled substance; and one count of distribution of a hemp-derived cannabinoid product to a person under the age of 21, all felonies.
Jones was previously being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on two separate $50,000 cash-only bonds set by Randolph County Magistrates Benjamin Shepler and Dyer. During a previous bond modification hearing, Wilfong modified Jones’ bonds to $50,000 property and $25,000 cash or surety, which has since been posted.
As part of Jones’ bond, he is not permitted to be in possession of any devices that can send or receive text, email or any form of electronic messages; no contact with anyone under the age of 18 with the exception of his biological child, so long as the child’s mother allows it; and no contact in any way with the alleged victim in this case.
Jones, who was arrested in October, was the former pastor of the now-dissolved Summit Church in Elkins. According to one of the initial criminal complaints filed against Jones, the alleged victim in the case attended Summit Church, "making (Jones) a person of trust over the victim." The arresting officer wrote in the complaint that he explained to the alleged victim what solicitation of a minor via computer was defined as under West Virginia State Code, and then asked the alleged victim if they thought Jones had solicited them. The alleged victim said, "Yes."
During a second preliminary hearing for Jones in October, the arresting officer told the court there were several photos of the alleged victim in their underwear and in a swimsuit on a device owned by Jones. The officer stated that directly after the swimsuit photo there was a similar photo of the alleged victim seemingly "exposing" private parts. That photo appeared to have been made using Artificial Intelligence (AI).