Grand jury indicts teen

An Athens County grand jury indicted a teen-ager from The Plains Monday.

Denver L. Shover IV, 17, was indicted on four different counts.

The first count is premeditated murder with specifications of aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery. The second count is felony murder, which is murder committed during a felony, and has the same specifications as the premeditated murder charge, said C. David Warren, Athens County prosecuting attorney.

The third count is aggravated burglary, which is trespassing on occupied property with intent for a crime. Count four is aggravated robbery, which alleges inflicting serious physical harm on a victim while committing a theft, Warren said.

These charges stem from a March 6 incident in which Mary Jo Stalder, 62, of The Plains was killed in her home, 10465 Salem Road. Houston police arrested Shover in Texas while he allegedly was driving Stalder’s missing 1996 dark-green Buick.

If convicted, Shover faces three possible sentences. He could be sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 20 years. He also could be sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 30 years or life with no possibility for parole.

Because Shover is 17 years old, he cannot be sentenced to death if he is found guilty, Warren said.

Shover is charged with both felony murder and premeditated murder, and he can be found guilty of either or both charges. But if Shover is found guilty of both, he can be sentenced for only one charge, Warren said.

Shover is schedule for arraignment at 9 a.m. May 1 in Athens County Common Pleas Court, Warren said.

Shover continues to be held in Muskingum County Juvenile Facility in Zanesville, Warren said. Shover will be moved to Southeast Ohio Regional Jail in Nelsonville after his arraignment.

—Stephanie Corbin