OAK HILL, WV (LOOTPRESS) – On September 27, 2022, Keith D. Adams was charged in Fayette County, West Virginia with felony drug possession and two counts of attempted murder regarding two Oak Hill, West Virginia police officers.
A criminal complaint filed against Adams alleged he intentionally exposed two Oak Hill, West Virginia Police Officers to fentanyl with the intent to kill the officers. Both officers were treated at the scene by E.M.S. and then at a local hospital emergency room. Thankfully, both officers fully recovered.
The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for Fayette County recently dismissed the charges pending
against Adams in Fayette County after consultation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. In discussing the case, it was determined that Adams was facing far more serious penalties for his alleged conduct under federal law versus state law. Additionally, the evidence recovered at the scene was needed to prosecute Adams in both state court and federal court which made simultaneous prosecutions in state and federal court problematic. In light of the preceding, a decision was made to defer to our colleagues in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the prosecution of Adams and the charges in Fayette County were dismissed.
Adams was indicted in federal court on September 7, 2023, for felony possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Adams was not charged in federal court with any specific crime related to his alleged attempt to cause two police officers to overdose. However, Adams’ alleged attempt to cause the officers to overdose will be considered by the Court at Adams’ sentencing in federal court should he be convicted and such conduct could result in an increase in the punishment imposed upon Adams under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Recently and in response to the Fayette County charges against Adams being dismissed, John H.
Bryan, a lawyer from Union, West Virginia who bills himself as the “Civil Rights Lawyer,” has released two videos on his YouTube channel regarding the Keith Adams case. Mr. Bryan’s videos regarding the Adams case contain significant misrepresentations as to the evidence in the case and Mr. Bryan made material misrepresentations in his videos about other aspects of the case. The most disturbing aspect of Bryan’s videos is that he wrongfully accused the two police officers involved in the case of fabricating the allegations against Adams.
The complete investigation was reviewed by the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for Fayette
County, which included: witness statements; videos and photographs taken at the scene; the officer’s medical records; and, lab reports regarding the analysis of the suspected drugs. As part of the case evaluation, the State further consulted with a pharmacology expert. The complete investigation supports the charges filed against Adams. According to the pharmacology expert consulted by the State, ingestion or inhalation of fentanyl can lead to an overdose.
The allegation made by Bryan that the officers who were exposed to fentanyl had lied about
Adams’ actions are completely baseless and wholly without merit. It is truly disappointing that Mr. Bryan appears to be more interested in clicks on his YouTube channel than presenting the truth about a serious situation that could have resulted in the death of two police officers.
Allegations of criminal conduct are merely accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.