Fayette County woman attempts to falsely incriminate partner, faces domestic assault charges

SMITHERS, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A woman faces misdemeanor domestic assault charges, as well as domestic battery charges, following an incident which occured in Fayette County.

According to Deputy L. Garretson, authorities were dispatched to Smithers, WV on Sunday, May 22, 2022 in response to a physical domestic dispute.

Speaking with homeowner John Selbe, Garretson was informed that his girlfriend, defendant Tonya L. Simpson, had returned home behaving belligerently before cutting herself with a kitchen knife and attacking Selbe on the bed.

Upon Garretson’s arrival, Simpson had begun walking in the direction of Grant’s Supermarket, per Selbe.

Garretson then departed the residence and located Simpson heading toward Beech. St.

Simpson claimed that Selbe had physically attacked her, and claimed that the cuts present on her arm had been a result of this attack. She was then detained, and the two returned to the scene of the incident.

A small kitchen knife was located within the residence, and blood was found in the bed as well as on Selbe’s feet. A scratch was also detected on Selbe’s right arm.

The report of the incident states that the cuts on Simpson’s arm appeared to be self-inflicted due to the directional nature of their having been made. Upon further questioning Simpson stated she did not know how the wounding occurred.

Simpson was ultimately found to be the aggressor in the incident, and after being transferred to the Sheriff’s Department, admitted to causing the wounds herself in an attempt to have Selbe arrested on domestic battery charges.

Simpson was then transported to Southern Regional Jail to await arraignment.