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Additional arrests in Fairmont sexual assault investigation

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Four people now face charges in a Marion County sexual assault investigation.

West Virginia State Police Sgt. Adam Scott arrested Ethel Massey, 32, and Kenneth Jeffers, 42, Wednesday.

They face a felony charge of child neglect creating risk of injury.

Police allege the seven-year-old victim told Jeffers she had been abused. Jeffers allegedly told Massey, his girlfriend, of the complaint.

According to Scott, the couple didn’t contact police or child protective services and didn’t take the girl for an exam following the accusation.

On Tuesday, state police arrested Brandon Coe, 20, of Fairmont, and charged him with first-degree sexual assault.

The victim had identified him as the suspect.

Brandon Coe’s father was also arrested. Ronny Coe was charged with failure to report child abuse or neglect.

According to state police, Massey confronted Ronny Coe, her brother, about the alleged abuse.

Ronny Coe, a Marion County Police Auxiliary Officer, reportedly “told them not to call the police. It would be a waste of time.”

During the investigation, Massey told Scott she checked the victim out herself and couldn’t see any signs of sexual abuse.

State police accuse Massey and Jeffers of allowing the victim to stay with the Brandon and Ronny Coe, unsupervised, following the October allegation.

Massey and Jeffers were placed on a $50,000 cash or surety bond and taken to the North Central Regional Jail.





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