ANDERSON- MYERS

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Gary Edward Anderson-Myers had been set to go to trial Thursday for kidnapping and aggravated burglary, but instead Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Vavra on Monday granted a continuance until Nov. 20 to allow defense attorney Bruce Clark to further examine evidence after Clark suggested no kidnapping took place.

The incident allegedly occurred Aug. 15. Anderson-Myers, 33, of 1731 Guernsey St., Bellaire is accused of abducting Jamie L. Jackson, 35, after an apparent domestic dispute at the Belle Village Apartments in Bellaire. Jackson was found unharmed six hours later.

Clark elaborated on the basis for the continuance request.

“There is evidence via Facebook message between the alleged victim and my client that … firmly establishes that there was no kidnapping in this case,” Clark said.

He said he only obtained the evidence recently and required more time.

“I did see the message, Judge. I did inquire further … ,” Belmont County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan said. “We have no objection to the continuance as filed. The information was ultimately obtained from a different phone, however this is information from a Facebook account. It could be obtained from anyone’s phone or anyone’s computer. The Facebook account belongs to the alleged victim. The alleged victim is not cooperating, to my knowledge, in this case. I don’t even think she’s going to show up to testify. If she does show up to testify, I can easily introduce these messages. … I don’t know if there’s other messages out there from her account. … There’s a lot to consider, and I don’t want to rush through it in three days.”

Flanagan said the aggravated burglary charge will still be considered regardless of the kidnapping charge. Clark said the two charges are related, and he believes a jury would not convict for the burglary without the kidnapping charge.