Trail date set for Bussard

MARTINSBURG - The trial date for a Williamsport, Md., man indicted on charges stemming from a February shooting incident was set Thursday in Berkeley County Circuit Court.

David Russell Bussard, 34, entered a plea of not guilty to one count of attempted murder, wanton endangerment and malicious assault.

Circuit Court Judge Gina Groh scheduled a trial date for Jan. 26, and a pre-trial hearing was set for Jan. 14. A status hearing was scheduled for Dec. 3.

Bussard was represented in court by local defense attorney Christopher Prezioso, who waived Bussard's right to a speedy trial as well as the reading of Bussard's indictment in open court.

The state was represented by Prosecuting Attorney Pamela Games-Neely.

According to court records, deputies with the Berkeley County Sheriff's Department responded at approximately 11:22 p.m. Feb. 10 to a gunshot victim at a residence within the Broadview Trailer Park in Falling Waters.

When they arrived on scene, they saw a man, later identified as Bussard, exiting the front door of the residence and they told him to lay on the ground. While complying with the deputies' orders, a metal object, later determined to be a .40-caliber handgun, fell to the ground.

Once Bussard was secured, deputies went into the residence and found David Allen Moye, of Falling Waters, sitting on the couch with a gunshot wound on his upper left thigh. Deputies also found several bullet holes in walls, a kitchen cabinet and a hot water heater, according to court documents.

Moye told police he was involved in an argument with one of several people at the residence. When everyone but Bussard left to go for a drive, Moye said he went into his bedroom. Bussard called Moye out of his room, and when he walked out he saw a gun aimed at him.

He told police that Bussard pointed the gun to the side and shot twice, and then aimed the gun at him and shot.

Moye was treated on the scene by responders from the Berkeley County Emergency Ambulance Authority and then taken to City Hospital in Martinsburg. Berkeley County Sheriff Kenneth "Kenny" Lemaster said the injury was not life-threatening.

If convicted of attempted murder, Bussard could face up to 15 years in prison. A conviction on the malicious assault charge would bring a two- to 10-year sentence, while a one- to five-year sentence could be handed down if he is convicted on the wanton endangerment charge.