FAYETTEVILLE, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Anthony Ciliberti, Jr., Prosecuting Attorney, announces that on July 29, 2021, Henry Jo Ward, age 41, of Hico, was convicted of one count of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of wanton endangerment, one count of malicious assault on a law enforcement officer, and one count of use and presentment of a firearm during the commission of a felony, all felony crimes, following a two-day jury trial before Judge Paul M. Blake, Jr. Ward was also convicted of the misdemeanor crimes of obstructing an officer and brandishing a deadly weapon.
Ward will be sentenced on September 10, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. He faces one to three years for attempted second-degree murder, one to five years for each count of wanton endangerment, three to fifteen years for malicious assault on a law enforcement officer, and up to ten years for use and presentment of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
On November 29, 2020, Henry Jo Ward was suspected of stealing Jeffrey Barnhouse’s trail camera from a hunting lease near Midland Trail in Hico. During the initial investigation, Ward encountered Fayette County Deputy Sheriff Cody Pierson, who was not on duty at that time, and Jeffrey Barnhouse. During this encounter, Ward pulled a .357 magnum revolver out of his pants, and he attempted to shoot Deputy Pierson. When Ward fired the gun, the bullet struck neither Deputy Pierson or Jeffrey Barnhouse. Ward was taken into custody shortly thereafter.
These crimes were investigated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department with assistance from the National Park Service. The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jennifer D. Crane and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Sarah F. Smith.
