NEW CUMBERLAND — A county resident who allegedly assaulted a sleeping female and another who allegedly had a large collection of child pornography in his home were among the 12 individuals indicted during the January term of the Hancock County grand jury.

Two others also were charged with gun crimes, Prosecutor Steven E. Dragisich reports.

Ordered to stand trial on two counts of second-degree sexual assault, two counts of incest and two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, all felonies, was Roger D. Stewart Jr. of 62 Carriage Court, New Cumberland.

Stewart, 48, allegedly assaulted the sleeping female in August 2022 and again in May 2024. Authorities said elevating a sexual assault charge to second degree is appropriate when the alleged victim is unable to consent to the behavior in question.

Also under indictment is James L. Capito, 76, 126 Arena Drive, Weirton, distributing and exhibiting material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, a felony.

Authorities had reported seizing hard drives containing what digital forensic investigators said amounted to more than 3,000 pornographic images and videos depicting children in sexual situations during a 2025 search of Capito’s home.

Grand jurors also returned indictments against:

• Mark Reece Fuller, 58, 531 Harrison St., Newell, malicious assault and wanton endangerment involving a firearm.

Dispatchers were originally told the victim was “cleaning his gun and accidentally shot himself,” but once on scene they were told Fuller and the alleged victim were “fighting over who would get the gun to shoot rats on the property.”

The victim, shot in the head, was unable to speak for about a month. When he recovered enough to give authorities a statement, they said he claimed Fuller had falsely accused him of stealing his things, “then aimed the rifle at him and shot him.”

• Roe Degenhardt Baker, 72, 1313 Arner Road, Chester, attempted murder and four counts of wanton endangerment involving a firearm.

Baker allegedly hired a traveling handyman from Myrtle Beach, S.C., to do some home improvements, allowing him to stay in a camper on her property and come into her home when needed to shower and cook. Authorities maintain that when the job was done the handyman expected payment but Baker declined to give him money and instead filed for his eviction. Before the legal process could play out they suggest she “fired shots at him, coming dangerously close to hitting him.”

• Adam John Custer, 99 Phillips St., Weirton, malicious assault, domestic battery, unlawful restraint and falsely reporting an emergency incident.

Custer, 24, allegedly punched his girlfriend multiple times, pulling her and dragging her through the house by her hair, and also breaking her nose and eye socket, authorities said. The victim wasn’t permitted to leave the home, they said.

• Leslie Alwibert Palmer, 44, 1310 Madison Ave., Toronto, entry of a building other than a dwelling; petit larceny and removal; injury to or destruction of property.

Palmer was allegedly caught by police trying to leave Brown’s Island with copper, saws and other items.

• Damien Michael Paolino, 41, 1110 Avondale St., East Liverpool, delivery of methamphetamine and two counts of delivering cocaine, both controlled substances.

• Zackery Strub, 32, 16357 Iris Ridge Road, Apt. 15, East Liverpool, possession of a Schedule IV controlled substance, Clonazepam, with intent to deliver as well as conspiracy to possess a Schedule IV controlled substance with intent to deliver.

• Jason Douglas Rodgers, 44, 3106 Orchard St., Weirton, entry of a building other than a dwelling. Authorities allege Rodgers was rummaging through closets in an apartment complex in search of tools he could take.

• Jeremiah Ryan Cassella, 47, 347 Ritchie Ave., Weirton, driving under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance or drugs, third or subsequent offense; driving while license is suspended or revoked for DUI; driving while license is revoked administrative and improper registration.

Authorities allege Cassella, 47, was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time.

• Steven L. Howard, 61, 415 Grant St., Newell, seven counts of failing to register as a sex offender (first offense.) Howard is required to update his sex offender status regularly for the rest of his life, but authorities say he failed to document seven life changes, including a new phone number and three cash-app style accounts.

• Harold Russell Bittinger, 38, 101 Era St., Weirton, entry of a building other than a dwelling; obstructing an officer; and four counts of second offense failure to register as a child abuser.

Bittinger previously was incarcerated for child abuse and after his release was required to register his whereabouts within three days and update it regularly. He allegedly was caught rummaging through a vacant house and gathered a box of items to remove, authorities said.