Strangulation and explosives among August indictments

August grand jury issues 20 indictments against 14 individuals, plus six sealed indictments

~ PVN staff report

LURAY, Aug. 5— Members of a grand jury in Page County Circuit Court issued a true bill on a total of 20 indictments handed down Wednesday, Aug. 5 on charges placed against 14 individuals, plus six sealed indictments (usually indicative of an ongoing investigation).

Those individuals indicted by the Aug. 5 grand jury include:

• Bradley Scott Ritchie, of Elkton, Va., was indicted on a Class 3 felony for malicious wounding and a Class 6 felony for strangulation. Both offenses occurred on March 22, 2026, according to court records, with an arrest on March 23, 2026. Ritchie is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026 for a status hearing.

• Russell Timothy Meadows Ropka, of Stanley, Va. was indicted on two counts of a Class 5 felony for the creation or use of a bomb or explosives. Both offenses and an arrest occurred on May 16, 2026, according to court records. Ropka is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 16, 2026 for a one-day jury trial.

• Jeffrey Dale Easley, of Stanley, Va. was indicted on two counts of a Class 6 felony for child abuse (disregard for life). Both offenses and an arrest occurred on June 7, 2026, according to court records. Easley is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026 for a hearing.

• Olin Kaleb Judy, of Luray, Va. was indicted on a felony for assault and battery of a family member (third offense) and a Class 1 misdemeanor for damaging a phone line to prevent a 911 call. Both offenses occurred on June 20, 2026, according to court records, with an arrest on June 22, 2026. Judy entered a plea of guilty for both offenses on Aug. 12, 2026. On the assault charge, Judy was sentenced to five years in jail, with three years and 11 months suspended, plus three years of supervised probation upon release. On the misdemeanor charge, Judy was sentenced to 12 months in jail, with 12 months suspended, and one year of supervised probation.

• Dylan Free Buchele, of Stanardsville, Va., was indicted on a Class 5 felony for failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in more than $1,000 in damage and a misdemeanor for reckless driving (endangering life, limb or property). Both offenses occurred on Jan. 3, 2026, according to court records, with an arrest on Jan. 7, 2026. Buchele is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026 to enter a plea.

• Conner Matthew Kibler, of Luray, Va., was indicted on a Class 6 felony for eluding or disregarding police. The offense occurred on April 7, 2026, according to court records, with an arrest on April 8, 2026. Kibler was scheduled to enter a plea on Aug. 19, but the case was continued. Kibler is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2026 for sentencing.

• Melissa Shannon Alger, of Stanley, Va., was indicted on two counts of a Class 5 felony for possession of a Schedule I/II drug. Both offenses occurred on Jan. 29, 2026, according to court records, with an arrest on Jan. 30, 2026. Alger is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026 for a status hearing.

• Robin Alger, of Stanley, Va., was indicted on a Class 5 felony for possession of a Schedule I/II drug. The offense and an arrest occurred on April 21, 2026, according to court records. Alger is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026 for a status hearing.

• Natasha Lynn Cubbage, of Stanley, Va., was indicted on a Class 5 felony for possession of a Schedule I/II drug. The offense occurred on Dec. 27, 2025, according to court records, with an arrest on Dec. 28, 2025. Cubbage is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026 for a hearing.

• Kashaish Charvelle Jackson, of Luray, Va., was indicted on a Class 5 felony for possession of a Schedule I/II drug. The offense occurred on June 7, 2026, according to court records, with an arrest on June 15, 2026. Jackson entered a plea of guilty on Aug. 12 and was sentenced to two years in jail, with two years suspended, and two years of supervised probation upon release.

• Sharon Leigh Smith, of Stanley, Va., was indicted on a Class 5 felony for possession of a Schedule I/II drug. The offense occurred on April 2, 2026, according to court records, with an arrest on April 26, 2026. Smith is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026 to enter a plea.

• Sarah Beth Stoneberger, of Luray, Va., was indicted on a Class 5 felony for possession of a Schedule I/II drug. The offense and an arrest occurred on April 13, 2026, according to court records. Stoneberger has court appointments for hearings at 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026 and again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026.

• Ricky O’Dell Thomas Jr., of Stanley, Va., received a direct indictment on a Class 5 felony for possession of a Schedule I/II drug. The offense occurred on Dec. 9, 2025, according to court records, with an arrest on Aug. 5, 2026. Thomas was arrested on a capias warrant following the grand jury session and will appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026 for a capias hearing.

• Olivia Nicole Wagner, of Winchester, Va., received a direct indictment on a Class 5 felony for possession of a Schedule I/II drug. The offense occurred on Nov. 30, 2025, according to court records, with no arrest date listed. Wagner is scheduled to appear in court again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026 for a hearing.

Grand jury hearings are held the first Wednesday of each month in Page County Circuit Court.

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