From Office of the United State Attorney, Northern District of West Virginia

 

A Haywood man convicted of a 1988 sexual assault and a 1997 murder is now facing a federal charge in a separate case.  Joseph Garrett, 50, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm.If convicted, Garrett faces up to 10 years in prison on each count.  This case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn A. Morgan and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

 

An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 

WBOY is reporting that Garrett A Haywood was convicted of a 1988 sexual assault and a 1997 murder. According to their report, "Garrett pleaded guilty to the murder of Ricky Merrill in Sept. 1998. Garrett was accused of stabbing Merrill 16 times before throwing him off of a nearly 50-foot train trestle in July 1997 near Rivesville, according to 12 News archives. He was also convicted of third degree sexual assault of a female relative between 13 and 17 years old in January 1988. He is listed on the West Virginia State Police sex offender registry. Garrett is being held in North Central Regional Jail."

 

Click HERE to read their entire report.