Jonathan Stuart Porter was the childhood friend of West Virginia Democratic senate candidate Richard Ojeda. ^[undefined] Johnathan's uncle, former Logan County Circuit Clerk Alvis Porter recently pleaded guilty to paying kickbacks to a local coal mine operator. ^[undefined]

Allegations

Jonathan Porter brutally assaulted Richard Odeja at a barbecue in West Virginia, days before the primary where Odeja is running for Senate.

Ojeda suffered eight bone fractures and three lacerations to his face, as well as exterior swelling to his head.

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Jonathan Stuart was in custody Sunday and suspected of malicious assault, malicious attempted assault and felony destruction of property.

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Ojeda said witnesses told him that he was kicked and struck with brass knuckles, although Holden said he found no evidence of the weapon and Porter denied using them.

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Afterward, when the assailant got in his truck, a neighbor who witnessed the beating jumped in between the vehicle and Ojeda.

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The attacker spun out in the gravel, and when a second neighbor tried to block his exit with an ATV, the driver rammed the quad several times, Holden said, adding that the man eventually ran over it — along with a second ATV whose driver also tried to block him.

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Porter called police and peacefully turned himself in after hiding out in the mountains for six hours, Holden said.

Aside from a brief comment about the brass knuckles, Holden said, Porter refused to talk to authorities.

A motive for the assault remained unclear, he said.

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Ojeda believes John's attack was premeditated and it was all about politics.

Citing what he described as the intense poverty, corruption and nepotism that plagues the region — and his campaign for transparency and good government — Ojeda said: “The moment you start asking questions, you become public enemy number one.”

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