November 30 — We face attempted murder and nine kidnapping charges

A man accused of stabbing the principal of South Point Elementary School in late October has been indicted on 18 counts, including attempted murder, threatening by stalking and nine counts of kidnapping.

Joshua Collins is accused of stabbing Bill Christian in the school lobby on Oct. 24, then breaking a window and entering the school. Collins was arrested at the scene and taken to the hospital and held in a West Virginia jail before being extradited to Ohio.

Collins was indicted by the Lawrence County Grand Jury on charges of first-degree misdemeanor menacing by stalking, first-degree misdemeanor telecommunications harassment, second-degree felony, aggravated assault required to commit a crime in a school zone, and first-degree felony. attempted murder with intent to commit a crime in a school zone, nine counts of first-degree felony kidnapping, committing a crime in a school zone, fifth-degree felony breaking and entering, first-degree felony unlawful carrying or possession of a deadly weapon or lethal ammunition in a school security zone and causing panic. which is a fourth-degree felony.

If convicted on all counts, his sentence would be more than 150 years in prison.

Collins was in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday and waived his right to a speedy trial. Without this waiver, the trial would have to begin within 90 days from the date Collins was charged.

He is currently being held in jail on $2 million bail.

According to reports, Collins was upset over a custody issue and causing a scene in the lobby, and Christian came out to calm the situation.

When Christian turned his back to the man, Collins stabbed Christian in the neck and upper torso.

Christian fled into the office through a locked door, at which point Collins broke the window glass in the door and entered the office.

Collins followed Christian around the office and eventually into the cafeteria area.

That’s where a South Point Police officer confronted Collins and took him into custody.

According to the post of Carrie Childers, wife of Aaron Childers, the pastor of Solida Baptist Church, where Christian attended, the principal was discharged from the hospital on October 29 and is being treated at home.

Christian has served as principal of South Point Elementary School since April, and before that he was the school’s assistant principal for 12 years. He replaced Chris Mathes as principal after Mathes became superintendent of the school district.