GREENUP — An Ironton man has been indicted on a felony charge for allegedly lying to a police officer about having a loaded hypodermic needle on his person prior to being searched.

Ricky S. Hicks’ alleged actions resulted in a Russell officer being stuck with the “exposed, contaminated” needle, according to court records.

Hicks, 49, of the 3000 block of South Fourth Street, was indicted by a Greenup County grand jury on a charge of first-degree wanton endangerment.

Grand jurors alleged that Hicks intentionally failed to warn the officer about the danger by falsely telling him he had nothing on his person that would stick him.

All the while, Hicks allegedly knew he had “an exposed syringe that contained illegal controlled substances and bodily fluids.”

The officer was subsequently jabbed with the needle when he frisked Hicks, the indictment states.

Hicks also was charged with first-degree drug possession for allegedly having OxyContin, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance in an improper container and second-degree persistent felony offender.

Grand jurors also indicted a Flatwoods man for allegedly sexually abusing four different children over a period of nearly seven years.

Michael Lynn Valentine, 42, of the 1600 block of Martin Street, was charged with six counts of first-degree sexual abuse in four separate indictments returned earlier this month by a Greenup County grand jury.

Two of the charges are Class C felonies because they allegedly occurred when the victims were younger than 12. The others are Class D felonies that allegedly took place when the victims were older than 12, but younger than 16, according to court records.

A Class felony carries a prison sentence of five to 10 years, while a Class D is punishable by one to five years.

Valentine’s crimes allegedly occurred between December 2002 and August 2009, according to the indictments. The charges were the result of an investigation by the Kentucky State Police.

A grand jury indictment is a formal accusation of a crime and does not establish guilt.

Others named in recent true bills returned by the grand jury were:

‰Stacy Dulaney, 26, of Flatwoods, charged with first-degree drug trafficking.

‰Darrell W. Mabry, 56, of Olive Hill, charged with two counts of first-degree drug trafficking.

‰Judy M. Porter, 58, of Flatwoods, charged with first-degree wanton endangerment.

‰Lloyd K. Salyers, 47, of Argillite, charged with first- and third-degree drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence, second-offense driving on a DUI-suspended license and possession of a controlled substance in an improper container.

‰Jeremy Shelton, 32, of Raceland, charged with first-degree drug trafficking and second-degree persistent felony offender.

‰Joshua R. Shumway, 28, of Catlettsburg, charged with second-degree drug trafficking.

‰Robert S. Steele, 38, of Portsmouth, charged with first-degree drug trafficking, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

‰James R. Stephens, 32, of Grayson, charged with first-degree drug trafficking and second-degree persistent felony offender.

‰Davina J. Wheeler, 43, of Raceland, charged with first-degree drug trafficking, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and two counts of second-degree persistent felony offender.

KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.