A Wayne County, West Virginia man was arrested and charged in a murder investigation in southern Wayne County after he was accused in the shooting death of a man and a dog early Tuesday morning, December 5, according to a Wayne County court records report.

According to a news release from the West Virginia State Police, they identified the suspect as Chester R. Mollett, 64, of Dunlow, W. VA., who troopers say a West Virginia State Police Special Response Team (SRT) responded and were able to take Chester Mollett into custody without incident.

Chester Mollett was accused of first shooting a dog Tuesday in the 900 block of Blue Moon Hollow, and then shooting the victim, identified as Jason Perry, according to a state police criminal complaint filed in Wayne County Magistrate Court.

Witnesses told state police investigators Jason Perry was inside the residence when he heard a gunshot. When Jason Perry went to check on the dog, Chester Mollett was accused of shooting him, the complaint said.

Chester Mollett, who state police investigators said lived nearby, allegedly admitted to waiting outside the residence for Jason Perry because he was tired of Jason Perry allegedly “stealing from and harassing” him, the criminal complaint said.

WVSP investigators stated that Chester Mollett was convicted of felony manslaughter in Kentucky in 1996, according to the criminal complaint, and that Chester Mollett served seven years in state prison for the homicide incident.

Chester Mollett is charged with:

• First-Degree Murder, and being a
• Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in connection with the deadly incident Tuesday in Wayne County.

Chester Mollett was taken to and lodged in the Western Regional Jail in Barboursville, W. VA., in Cabell County, where he is being held without bond.

WVSP troopers say further arrests in the case could be forthcoming.