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Grand jury indicts Gray resident on attempted murder, assault charge

By Becky Campbell
Press Staff Writer
bcampbell@johnsoncitypress.com

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A Washington County grand jury indicted a Gray man on attempted murder and aggravated assault charges for allegedly beating up his girlfriend as they drove down the road.

Michael Travis Brandon, 25, lived on Jax Drive in Gray when the May 31 alleged domestic assault occurred.

According to court records, the incident started when Brandon went to Christy Ward’s mother’s house in Hampton and threatened to kill everyone if Ward and their two children didn’t leave with him.

Once Ward was in the car, Brandon headed toward Gray and during the drive began assaulting Ward and arguing with her.

Ward told Washington County deputies Brandon hit her several times, pushed her into the floorboard and kicked her in the head. He also allegedly struck her with a jack handle, according to the court documents.

After they arrived at the Gray residence they shared, Brandon allegedly forced Ward inside and threatened more harm to her if she tried to leave. She told officers that Brandon cut her with a knife at one point.

Ward was able to escape to a neighbor’s residence and call for help when Brandon went out to the vehicle. Investigators said Brandon also pointed a gun at the neighbor.

Other indictments returned by the grand jury Monday were:

• Frankie Barham, 63, 1529 Pactolas Road, No. 2, on six counts of sale of a controlled substance and one count each of possession with intent to sell a controlled substance, promoting prostitution and maintaining a dwelling where controlled substances are stored, used or sold.

Johnson City Police Vice officers arrested Barham for diverting prescription medications and selling them. Police also said Barham operated a massage business and paid in pills to have sex with females.

• Jay R. Denton Jr., 43, 113 Humphrey’s Road, Telford; Daniel Ryan Hurst, 18, 248 Browning Road, Telford; David Dwayne McKinney 26, 113 Humphrey’s Road, Telford; on one count each of aggravated robbery.

According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, McKinney drove Hurst, his brother, and Denton to the Roadrunner Market on Old State Route 34.

Denton went inside the market and purchased beer, then stood at the door as Hurst went inside and robbed the clerk at gunpoint.

The men ran to the car and fled the scene. Sheriff’s deputies were nearby and spotted the suspect vehicle and pursued it. The suspects pulled into Missionary Baptist Church and ran on foot. Later, officers found the men at Denton and McKinney’s residence at 113 Humphrey’s Road.

Those are just a few of the cases the grand jury considered Monday. The panel also meets today.