U.S. Marshals, WV State Police Arrest 59 in Operation Coal Country

Charleston, WV - The U.S. Marshals Southern District of West Virginia CUFFED Task Force, in partnership with the West Virginia State Police (WVSP), have completed Operation Coal Country, a multi-week enforcement initiative targeting noncompliant sex offenders, individuals wanted for sex crimes, violent fugitives, and other wanted individuals throughout southern West Virginia.

Operation Coal Country began August 13 and concluded September 1. During the operation, law enforcement officers made 59 arrests. Of those arrested, 16 were registered sex offenders, while 10 additional individuals were arrested on warrants related to sex crimes. One missing child was also recovered during the operation.

The operation brought together federal, state, and local law enforcement resources in a coordinated effort to locate and apprehend fugitives while also conducting enforcement activities involving registered sex offenders.

Operation Coal Country focused heavily on sex offender compliance and fugitive apprehension throughout the West Virginia State Police Troop 5 area and surrounding communities. Investigators worked to identify registered sex offenders who were not complying with state and federal registration requirements and to locate individuals wanted for crimes involving sexual offenses.

During the operation, the West Virginia State Police conducted 383 sex offender compliance checks, finding 51 to be out of compliance of sex offender registration requirements. The West Virginia State Police also obtained 72 arrest warrants during the operation. Two sex offenders were also indicted in the Southern District of West Virginia for violations of the Adam Walsh Act from U.S. Marshals-led investigations.

In addition to sex offender and sex crime arrests, participating law enforcement agencies apprehended fugitives wanted for a variety of other felony offenses to include, murder, attempted murder, wanton endangerment, malicious wounding, strangulation, felon in possession of firearm, child neglect and various drug related felonies.

“The success of Operation Coal Country demonstrates what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies combine their resources toward a common mission,” said Marshal Jack Chambers, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of West Virginia. “Fifty-nine arrests over the course of this operation means 59 wanted individuals were located and taken into custody. More importantly, this operation placed a significant emphasis on protecting our communities from individuals who have committed sex offenses or failed to comply with their registration requirements. The U.S. Marshals Service and West Virginia State Police will continue working together to investigate noncompliant sex offenders and apprehend dangerous fugitives throughout southern West Virginia.”

“Each arrest resulting from these targeted enforcement operations protects our communities and makes them safer,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “The success of this operation continues the momentum we’ve created through dedicated, collaborative, and aggressive efforts with our law enforcement partners.”

“When law enforcement works together, criminals have fewer places to hide,” said Colonel James Mitchell, superintendent of the West Virginia State Police. “Operation Coal Country shows the power of a coordinated, proactive approach to protecting our communities and holding offenders accountable. The West Virginia State Police is proud to stand with the U.S. Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners in doing everything we can to keep the people of West Virginia safe.”

Significant arrest includes:
Matthew Allen Waggle, 33, of Indian River County, FL was taken into custody on Aug. 19 in Dunbar, W.Va. Waggle was wanted for 1st Degree Murder by the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office in the shooting death of 52-year-old Dawn Kriskewic. Waggle was considered armed and dangerous.

Jonathan Gregory Bowersock, 35, of Cottonwood, Arizona, was taken into custody in Sedona, Arizona. Bowersock was wanted by the Parkersburg Police department. Between 2014-2020, Bowersock is alleged to have sexually abused a female juvenile family member.

Law Enforcement also made the following seizures:
•    74.1 grams Fentanyl 
•    3.4 pounds Methamphetamine 
•    33.3 grams Cocaine 
•    $6,000 in U.S. currency 
•    1 Firearm and assorted ammunition

The U.S. Marshals Service sex offender investigations mission is to protect the public from sex offenders through the coordinated enforcement of sex offender registration laws.

With the passage of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, the U.S. Marshals Service was designated as the lead federal agency to investigate violations of federal sex offender registration laws and to assist state, local, tribal and territorial jurisdictions in locating and apprehending sex offenders who fail to comply with their sex offender registration requirements. The Marshals collaborate with those partner agencies to aggressively investigate and pursue non-compliant offenders, placing the highest priority on those who have committed violent acts and crimes against children.

If anyone has information regarding the whereabouts of a wanted or noncompliant sex offender, tips can be submitted anonymously through the USMS Tips application or by calling 1-877-WANTED-2. Information may also be provided to the West Virginia State Police. Tips are kept confidential.

Members of the public can also access sex offender registry information through the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) at https://www.nsopw.gov and the West Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry https://apps.wv.gov/StatePolice/SexOffender.

Agencies involved in the operation included:

USMS CUFFED Task Force

USMS Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force

USMS Arizona WANTED Violent Offender Task Force

United States Attorney’s Office

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

FBI – Charleston, WV

Nation Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)

West Virginia State Police

West Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry

West Virginia State Police, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC)

West Virginia Department of Correction & Rehabilitation (Parole)

Fayette County Sheriff’s Office

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office

Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office

Logan County Sheriff’s Office 

Mercer County Sheriff’s Office

Putnam County Sheriff’s Office

Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office

Kenova Police Department

Barboursville Police Department

Beckley Police Department 

Fayetteville Police Department

Huntington Police Department

Lewisburg Police Department 

Parkersburg Police Department

Princeton Police Department Saint Albans Police Department

South Charleston Police Department