News from 08/28/24 – Parsons Advocate

The following criminal charges were filed in Tucker County District Court:

Joshua David Polingwas charged with possession of child sexual abuse material

He also told NCMEC: “This man’s name is Josh or Joshua and he lives in West Virginia. He has been constantly asking me for nude photos and I have proof and pictures of the messages he has sent. He has been very cautious and has not shown me what he looks like or given me his last name or exact location, but I have reason to believe he lives near Parsons, WV.

On February 22, 2023, Harper obtained an administrative subpoena from the Braxton County Magistrate Court for the Instagram username used in these correspondences. On the same day, Harper also served the subpoena on Meta Platforms, Inc.

On March 31, 2023, Harper received the results of said subpoena from Meta Platforms/Instagram. This account was created on September 16, 2021 and linked to an email address.

Harper was able to track down a West Virginia driver’s license for suspect Joshua David Poling, but he was unable to locate Poling’s address on the license.

On August 24, 2023, Harper obtained a government subpoena for the Google email address used to create the suspect Instagram account. On the same day, Harper also served the subpoena on Google, Inc.

On September 9, 2023, Harper received the results of said subpoena. Google Inc. records showed that the account belonged to Josh Poling of Elkins. Several current credit/debit cards were linked to said account. That same day, Harper spoke with WV DHHR and received a current address for Poling.

On September 19, 2023, Harper, STPR EW Clark, and Trp. Hawkins went to the address to speak with Poling. Harper spoke with Poling about the complaint and allegations. He asked Poling if he had a mobile app called Instagram, and Poling responded that he did not. Harper asked him if he had ever had an Instagram account, and Poling responded, “Not in years.” Poling showed on his phone that the mobile app was not installed. Harper also obtained Poling’s email address.

Harper explained the NCMEC Instagram account to Poling and stated that the last time he used it, it looked like his Instagram account had been hacked.

Trp. Clark asked Poling to see his “trash” gallery and Poling said it was just deleted “porn.” Clark asked Poling if he was into child pornography and Poling said “no.” Poling flipped through his trash folder, but none of the officers could see the contents because of the glare of the sunlight. At this point, Poling seemed to get nervous.

Based on the above allegations, Harper seized the cell phone as evidence with the intent of obtaining a search warrant for the phone.

On October 2, 2023, Harper obtained two search warrants from the Tucker County District Court for the cell phone seized from Poling and the Instagram username. He served said search warrant on Meta/Instagram, but Meta was unable to produce anything related to said account.

Harper handed the cell phone over to the West Virginia State Police forensic laboratory in Morgantown.

On March 28, 2024, Harper received a WVSP forensic lab report for Poling’s cell phone and said the analysis discovered thirty-four (34) images depicting child sexual abuse on Poling’s phone.

An arrest warrant is requested from the Tucker County Magistrate’s Office.

Audley John Riley, of Davis was charged with DUI. On Saturday, August 17, Trp. GP Hahn of Tucker 911 was dispatched to a vehicle in the caller’s yard. The caller stated that he believed the driver was intoxicated and was spinning his tires while suspended in the yard.

Upon arrival, Hahn noticed the vehicle in the caller’s yard. He made contact with the driver, later identified as Audley John Riley. The officer noticed the suspect was slurring his speech and could smell the overwhelming odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the vehicle and the defendant’s person. He also noticed several open cans of beer in the vehicle. As the defendant exited the vehicle, he was forced to lean on his car and was unable to maintain his balance. He then had to hold onto the officer’s marked patrol car. The defendant allegedly stated that he had consumed 5 or 6 beers. Hahn ordered the defendant to submit to a field sobriety test, which the defendant refused. Hahn arrested the suspect and transported him to the Parsons Police Department where he was read his West Virginia implied consent. Additionally, the suspect was ordered to submit to an approved secondary chemical breath test to determine his blood alcohol content. After completing the test, the defendant’s blood alcohol content was found to be 0.343, while the legal limit was 0.08.

The above crimes occurred in Tucker County and all persons are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.

The following property transfers were recorded in the Tucker County Clerk’s office:

David August Skoog, Dry Fork District, 1.5 acres to Sheena Marie Williams, $50,000.

John S. Davis, Justin K. Davis, Jacey R. Davis and Liam H. Davis from mother – Heather Harper, Black Fork District, 2.44 acres to Carrie Anne Langley and Damian L. Langley, $85,000.

Karen D. Basham and Janice D. Lantz, Dry Fork District, Lot 192, 5.39 acres to Noah Properties, LLC, $575,000.

Sue S. Farnsworth and Justin B. Seibert, Dry Fork District, Lot B-2 Cedar Place Subdivision – 4,826 square feet to Aaron Stowers and Christina Stowers, $327,000.