West Virginia Lock Up

Morgan turns himself in

2009-11-22T11:33:00.002-05:00

CLARKSBURG -- Joshua Chance Morgan, 25, of Salem is charged with first degree murder, nighttime burglary and conspiracy, for his connection with the Greenwood Hills murder of Clarence Leeson, according to Sgt. Jason Snider.
Morgan turned himself into the Clarksburg Police Department on Friday, Nov. 21 and is being held without bond in the North Central Regional Jail.

Christopher Robey, 26, and Megan Titus, 21, were arrested in San Diego as part of the murder investigation and will be brought back to W.Va. next week.

Police are still searching for the last suspect, Nicholas Robey.

The four allegedly broke into Leeson home and sturck him in the head with an unknown object, causing his death. Several guns and other items were stolen from the home.

Nighttime burglary

2009-11-22T11:24:00.003-05:00

WHEELING -- Terry Lee Herring, 30, was arrested Saturday around 2 a.m. after a Wheeling resident came to police complaining their home had been burglarized.
Herring is in the Northern Regional Jail on $11,000 bond.

He is charged with nighttime burglary and petty larceny.

2 suspects surrender

2009-11-22T11:10:00.003-05:00

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Two suspects in what police described as the "gruesome" killing of South Charleston resident James Andrew Gillespie are now in custody after each turned himself in to police in separate circumstances without incident Saturday.

South Charleston Police Sgt. Michael Greathouse said a lawyer for Michael Thompson called early Saturday to say his client wanted to turn himself in. Greathouse was one of four officers who went to an address on Pinch Street in South Charleston to get Thompson.

"I don't know what connection the house had to anyone, but we were told he would be waiting on the steps," Greathouse said.

He also said the suspect, who is 18, had nothing to say, acting on the advice of his lawyer.

Police continued to search for the second suspect, Jimmy Eugene Thompson, 19, of 505 E St., South Charleston, hours after the first turned himself in.

But negotiations resulted in Jimmy Thompson turning himself in a few hours later. The two men are not related.

South Charleston Police Chief Brad Rinehart said that he and other officers had been negotiating with "mutual parties" to have the second Thompson turn himself in.

Rinehart said, "I want to reassure neighbors in that area that this was an isolated incident. The detective bureau has been working around the clock, and this shows their dedication."

Rinehart said Jimmy Thompson will be arraigned and likely taken to the South Central Regional Jail.

Police think both men knew Gillespie, who was found dead in his Macon Street home in South Charleston on Friday.

Police say both men had been in the victim's home earlier in the day drinking, according to a report Detective A.R. Gordon filed in Kanawha County Magistrate's Court after the first suspect was arrested.

A witness told police the men "were going to steal the victim's prescription medication." According to the police report, as soon as the victim realized his prescription drugs could be stolen, one suspect punched the victim in the face.

The witness who later contacted police fled as soon as he saw a suspect punch the victim, according to the same report.

Detective J.D. Gray of the South Charleston Police Department said a medical examiner performed an autopsy on Gillespie on Saturday, but he declined to give details.

According to Gordon's report in Magistrate's Court, Gillespie had been beaten and stabbed numerous times. After an appearance before a magistrate, Michael Thompson was taken to the South Central Regional Jail where he was being held without bond on a murder charge.

Jimmy Thompson

Michael Thompson

Teenager turns himself in

2009-11-21T11:53:00.003-05:00

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va.- One of two teenagers wanted in connection with a gruesome murder in South Charleston has turned himself in to police.

South Charleston Police say 18-year-old Michael Shane Thompson's attorney contacted them this morning saying he wanted to surrender. He has since been taken into custody -- and is going to the hospital to get checked out.

19-year-old Jimmy Eugene Thompson is still wanted in connected with the case. Police say the two Thompsons, who are not related, killed 51-year-old James Gillispie at his home on Macon Street Friday morning during some sort of physical altercation. The scene was described by detectives as "gruesome."

Officers say the suspects and the victim were acquaintances -- and the teens had been at his house in the past.

3rd suspect in stabbing returns to state

2009-11-21T11:42:00.002-05:00

CLARKSBURG -- The third suspect in the stabbing death of Terry Lewis, 61, was returned to West Virginia on Thursday, Nov. 19.
Jeffrey Taylor, 21, was arrested in Meansville, GA for his connection to the Oct. 25 home invasion and stabbing in Quiet Dell.

Taylor, Alexander Bosley, 21, and Cindy Allman, 18, have all been charged with first degree murder. Officials say Bosley and Allman have confessed to their roles in the stabbing and break-in, but could not comment on what Taylor revealed during his interrogation.

The department is processing the physical evidence recovered from the scene now, according to Harrison County Sheriff's Deputy Lt. Pat McCarty. Some of those items may have been used to stab Lewis to death.

Taylor, Bosley, and Allman had just recently met, McCarty said, but he could not comment on how or where.

Taylor had been living in Georgia, but McCarty said he came to West Virginia because he had a girlfriend here.

He was also arrested in June 2008 for grand larceny auto, according to court documents, for allegedly stealing his girlfriend's vehicle. That charge was later dropped.

Magistrate Tammy Marple arraigned Taylor on Friday, Nov. 20. He is in the North Central Regional Jail, with no bond set. Bosley and Allman are being held there as well.

Teenager arrested for robbery

2009-11-21T11:37:00.002-05:00

ST. ALBANS -- 18 year old Herschel Dylan Cole of South Charleston was arrested early Saturday morning, according to a press release issued by the Saint Albans Police Department.
He's accused of stealing several items from a residence in the 2200 block of Grant Avenue in St. Albans.

The man living in the residence woke up to find Cole in his house, According to the press release.

Cole fled the scene, but police found him about four houses down from where he committed the robbery.

Police have said that Cole confessed to working about three hours to steal all of the items, one of which included a 50 inch Plasma Television.

He was charged with Nighttime Burglary, and was taken to the South Central Regional Jail for arraignment.

According the police officers, the items were all returned to the resident.

2 bank robbers get the max

2009-11-21T11:19:00.002-05:00

Two of the men involved in the robbery of Mountain Valley Bank in Mill Creek in December 2008 were sentenced for their roles in the crime Friday morning in Randolph County Circuit Court.

Randolph County Circuit Judge Jaymie Godwin Wilfong sentenced Carl A. Hughes, 24, and Joshua Pennington, 23, to the maximum penalties for their felony convictions. Hughes received 11 to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count each of bank robbery and conspiracy, both felonies. Pennington was sentenced to one to five years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy, a felony. Both men were also fined $10,000 each.

Hughes was represented by attorney Russell Stobbs and Pennington was represented by attorney Tim Prentice.

Prior to handing down Hughes' sentence, Wilfong said she was imposing the maximum penalty but still doesn't think it's enough.

"Any sentence I impose cannot repair the damage that you have done, not only to the employees of this bank but everyone in this community," Wilfong said. "Bank robbery just isn't something that is supposed to happen here. This is a nice, quiet, law-abiding community. You're not even from here. You came from outside of our county and committed a horrible offense ... I'm sentencing you to the maximum sentence that I can give you, but quite frankly I don't think it's enough."

Following the hearings, Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Richard T. Busch said the safety of the community is "paramount," and placing the men in prison for a lengthy term helps ensure that safety.

"I believe that the true essence of the crime was not the taking of the $20,000," Busch said. "Yes, Hughes and Pennington stole $20,000, but more importantly they stole the safety and the security and the comfort of these employees. When the employees went to work that day, they were thinking about Christmas and New Years, they weren't thinking about having a gun put in their face ... Once someone has a gun pointed at their head and their life threatened, nothing can change that. The horrible memories of the Mountain Valley Bank robbery will never go away."

Mountain Valley Bank President Dick Harvey also spoke at both hearings. He was accompanied by two bank employees, but neither addressed the court.

During Hughes' hearing, Harvey said the robbery has had a "traumatic effect" on the bank's employees.

"During the holiday season last year, our good and honest, hard-working employees were confronted by somebody coming in the bank who was very loud and abrasive with a loaded gun," Harvey said. "By the grace of God, no customers came into the bank. Who knows what would have happened at that point. The trauma and psychological distress and terror our folks experienced that day were beyond description."

Hughes did not speak on his own behalf during his hearing.

Pennington told the court he did not know Hughes was going to use his car to rob the bank. Instead, he said he thought Hughes was going to use the car to rob a drug dealer living in the community.

"I just want to apologize to the victims and the community for even getting involved in the crime," Pennington said. "I had no prior knowledge of the bank being robbed. Although, I did conspire to receive the stolen money. I had my choice to turn the offer down and I chose to accept the money."

Hughes and Pennington were named in a nine-count indictment that accused the duo of conspiring to rob Mountain Valley Bank in Mill Creek on Dec. 30, 2008, and Hughes of committing the robbery.

Hughes was initially charged with seven felonies including conspiracy, first-degree robbery, bank robbery with a dangerous weapon, wanton endangerment involving a firearm, grand larceny, transfer of stolen goods and attempting to escape custody. Pennington was charged with one count each of conspiracy and receiving stolen goods.

According to the indictment, Hughes is accused of pointing a .38 caliber revolver at the face of a bank teller and commanding her to give him the money in the drawer during the robbery. He is accused of taking $21,060.

Pennington is charged with receiving more than $1,000, "in which he knew to be stolen in a bank robbery," the indictment states.

A third man, Matthew Pennington, 22, of 1303 Essex St., Bluefield, pleaded guilty in May to an information charging him with one count of grand larceny, a felony. Matthew Pennington was accused of driving the getaway car during the robbery.

Wilfong sentenced Matthew Pennington to two to 10 years in the state penitentiary. She also included a recommendation to the parole board that Pennington serve a minimum of five years to account for each victim inside the bank during the time of the robbery.

Man uses mail to harass

2009-11-21T10:53:00.003-05:00

BLUEFIELD — A Mercer County man who was arrested last week on a federal criminal complaint, is scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate judge next Tuesday at U.S. District Court in Beckley.

Thomas Creighton Shrader, 55, of Rock, is accused of using the mail, “to engage in a course of conduct that caused substantial emotional distress to that person and placed that person in reasonable fear of the death of, or serious bodily injury to, the person,” according to an affidavit detailing the facts supporting the criminal complaint.

Special Agent Terry Schwartz of the FBI, stated in an affidavit attached to the complaint that Shrader had been convicted in McDowell County on two counts of first-degree murder for a double homicide that occurred on July 16, 1975. Schwartz stated in his affidavit that one of the victims in the double homicide was the mother of Shrader’s ex-girlfriend. He stated that Shrader served 18 years for that crime and “during the course of his incarceration, Shrader continued to contact (his ex-girlfriend) through letters and phone calls.”

According to Schwartz’s affidavit, “during the course of his incarceration,” Shrader instituted a civil complaint against his ex-girlfriend, “costing her and her family thousands of dollars in legal fees.” The ex-girlfriend and her family moved to another state, but “Shrader has continued to harass (her) and her family through letters and phone calls,” according to Schwartz’s affidavit.

Local law enforcement officers in the state where the family had moved, listened to some of Shrader’s calls. One officer who listened to a call, identified himself as an officer and told Shrader to stop calling the ex-girlfriend and her family “or he would be prosecuted,” Schwartz stated in his affidavit. The family contacted the FBI on Oct. 26, after they received a 32-page letter from Shrader “containing numerous threats and harassing language.” Schwartz swore the affidavit before Federal Magistrate Judge R. Clarke Vandevort on Nov. 12, and Vandevort issued an arrest warrant. Shrader was arrested the following day, and had his initial appearance before Vandevort who scheduled his preliminary/detention hearing for Nov. 17.

According to an order entered Friday at U.S. District Court in Bluefield, the government and defense counsel agreed to continue the preliminary hearing until 10 a.m., on Nov. 24, at U.S. District Court in Beckley. Assistant U.S. Attorney L. Anna Forbes represented the government at the hearing on Nov. 17, and Assistant Federal Public Defender Christian M. Capece represented the defendant.

Parolee hits school bus

2009-11-21T10:32:00.003-05:00

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A South Charleston man was arrested Thursday after allegedly fleeing from police and colliding with a school bus in his vehicle.

Bernie Joe Mallory II, 28, was driving near Kanawha State Forest at about 5:30 p.m. when he tried to pass a school bus that had stopped and extended its onboard stop sign, said Sgt. L.G. O'Bryan of the State Police detachment in South Charleston.

Mallory, who was on parole, told troopers he became spooked after spotting a police cruiser. O'Bryan said Mallory hit the school bus, tearing off the stop sign.

Mallory fled, but was discovered on an access road in Kanawha State Forest about an hour later. During his arrest, Mallory became belligerent, scuffled with troopers and kicked out the window of the police cruiser, O'Bryan said. He said Mallory had apparently been drinking, and had two children in the car with him.

Mallory was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, child endangerment, obstructing an officer, resisting arrest, assault on a police officer and battery. His girlfriend, 30-year-old Sarah Hall, was charged with obstructing an officer and battery on a police officer.

Mallory and Hall were in the South Central Regional Jail on Friday. Bond was set at $5,000 for Hall and $10,000 for Mallory.

Arson charges

2009-11-20T10:56:00.002-05:00

A Cabins man has been arrested for allegedly having a connection to the blazes on Nov. 10 and Nov. 11 that left the Smoke Hole Caverns gift shop and restaurant in a pile of ashes.

Brent Michael Combs, 25, has been charged with one count of first-degree arson, one count of second-degree arson and three separate counts of injury caused by arson. He is being housed in the Potomac Highlands Regional Jail on a $285,000 bond.

According to Grant County Sheriff Deputy S.L. Wrachford, Combs has obtained legal counsel. Authorities do not know what motives Combs may have had for allegedly setting the fires.

The fires are still under investigation by the Grant County Sheriff's Department and state fire marshal's office. The state fire marshal's office is offering up to a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a person or persons connected with the crime. Anyone with information about the fires is asked to call the Grant County Sheriff's Department at 304-257-1818 or Assistant Fire Marshal Patrick Barker at 1-800-233-FIRE.

Pagan pleads guilty

2009-11-20T10:39:00.001-05:00

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- An Ohio man has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in a racketeering case targeting the Pagans Motorcycle Club

Steve Harlan Stover of Proctorville, Ohio, admitted in federal court Thursday that he helped other Pagans members shut down an affiliated club for being disloyal.

The 50-year-old construction worker pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to commit and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering.

Stover is one of 55 Pagans members and associates from West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Florida charged in the case.

He faces up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing is set for March 8.

Firefighter charged with arson

2009-11-20T10:34:00.001-05:00

PARKERSBURG - A 19-year-old volunteer firefighter with Pond Creek Volunteer Fire Department was charged with arson Thursday after allegedly setting a brush fire in a field off California Ridge Road, near Belleville, early Tuesday afternoon.

David Keith Richards, 402 Toppins Grove, Murraysville, lit a pile of trash on fire with motor oil in a field near California Ridge Road and the fire spread several feet into the grass, said Lt. Shawn Graham with Wood County Sheriff's Office.

Richards called 911 after setting the fire, officials said.

When questioned by Graham and Assistant State Fire Marshal Brad Hartley, Richards confessed to setting the fire deliberately to give his fire department something to do, said Graham.

Pond Creek Volunteer Fire Chief Kevin Rhodes said he believed the brush fire burned about three square feet. Pond Creek Volunteer Fire Department officials did not respond to the brush fire Tuesday and did not know many details about the incident, he said.

Richards was arraigned before Wood County Magistrate Donna Jackson at 10 p.m. Thursday and released on $25,000 bond.

Bond revoked for woman

2009-11-20T10:25:00.002-05:00

A Beckley woman charged in a pair of 2008 pharmacy robberies is in jail after her bond was revoked by Raleigh County Circuit Judge Robert Burnside Thursday.

Amanda Severino, 30, is charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of conspiracy and one count of possession of oxycodone in connection to her alleged roles in the March 2008 armed robberies of the Beckley Kmart pharmacy and Beckley Pharmacy.

Within days of the alleged robberies, Severino was released on $20,000 bond and ordered to long-term drug treatment. Immediately upon completion of treatment, Severino was to have reported directly to Southern Regional Jail to await trail.

Prosecutor Kristen Keller said Severino completed 13 months of treatment in Pennsylvania but never went to jail as ordered.

Beckley police discovered the situation Nov. 11 when responding to a 911 call at a residence on Hartley Avenue.

Keller and defense attorney Chris Lefler said Severino, along with friends, including co-defendant and girlfriend Amanda Lilly, spent the evening of Nov. 10 “partying,” taking Xanax and oxycodone.

Lefler said Severino awoke the next morning to find Lilly, 25, of Prosperity, dead from an overdose.

Keller asked that Severino’s bond be revoked on grounds she did not self-report to SRJ and was abusing drugs in direct violation of the conditions of her bond.

Lefler, however, told Burnside his client, who he said was traumatized by the death of her girlfriend, had admitted herself into Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital for psychiatric treatment, and asked that the judge allow her to report to jail after she was discharged.

Keller objected, saying treatment hadn’t helped Severino before and jail was the right answer.

“If she feels guilty, awful and grief-stricken, she should,” Keller said, adding Severino herself was likely to overdose or participate in the death of others if not incarcerated.

Burnside agreed with Keller, telling Lefler his proposal had failed once before.

“The alternative proposed by the defendant might be inviting if it hadn’t been done (before),” he said.

Lilly, who was charged with the same crimes as Severino, was awaiting trial at the time of her death.

Co-defendant Rebecca Dawn Earls of Crab Orchard was convicted earlier this year and is serving concurrent sentences of 15 years for first-degree robbery and one to five years for conspiracy.

Stabbing leads to arrest

2009-11-19T11:04:00.001-05:00

HUNTINGTON -- Huntington police are investigating after a man was stabbed in Huntington early Thursday morning.
It happened around 2:30 a.m. Thursday at 419 Sixth St.

Police said a verbal argument between Robert Martin and Dale Howell lead to a physical fight. Howell recieved a minor stab wound.

Police arrested Martin, 40, charging him with malicious wounding and obstruction.

Howell was charged with obstruction and also had a warrant for domestic battery. Howell was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Martin is in the Western Regional jail.

Drug arrest

2009-11-19T10:50:00.002-05:00

James Wiley, 20, Klaus Street, Beckley; delivery of marijuana.

Teen charged with vandalism

2009-11-18T11:40:00.001-05:00

WILLIAMSON, W.Va.- A Mingo County teenager faces charges in connection with the vandalism of a transformer that left nearly 5,000 customers without electricity for almost 24 hours.

West Virginia State Police charged 18-year-old Steven Spry of Verdunville on Monday with giving false information to an officer during the investigation.

American Electric Power has said someone shot a transformer in Dingess. Replacing the equipment cost about $1 million.

The shooting was among 20 acts of vandalism since Oct. 6 that targeted AEP equipment.

AEP is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest or conviction.

Woman arrested for attempted murder

2009-11-18T11:35:00.003-05:00

SISSONVILLE, W.Va.- A woman from Kenna faces second degree attempted murder charges after an incident in Sissonville. It happened early Wednesday morning on Walker Drive.
According to the criminal complaint, Kimberly Ann Daugherty, 48, of Kenna, came to her daughter's house and got into a fight with her. Richard Shamblin, 22, allegedly tried to stop Daughtery from attacking her daughter and took the disturbance outside on the driveway.

When Shamblin tried to keep Daugherty from leaving the house, investigators say she pushed Shamblin behind a Jeep that was backing down the driveway. According to a news release, the Jeep was driven by Daugherty's sister, Rita F. Taylor, 50, of Charleston.

During the argument, Daugherty also shouted "I'm going to kill you," according to the complaint.

Shamblin was taken to the hospital with a leg injury.

When investigators arrived on scene Daugherty was gone, but it wasn't long before they spotted the Jeep on Sissonville Drive.

Investigators say Daugherty denied ever being on Walker Drive, but the other two people in the vehicle said she was there and was in a confrontation with her daughter.

EMS paramedic likes exposing himself

2009-11-18T11:25:00.002-05:00

FAIRMONT -- EMS paramedic Edward Utter, 40, has faced indecent exposure charges in the past, and not just in West Virginia.
Utter was arrested in 1998 for third- and fourth-degree sexual offense, indecent exposure, and second-degree assault, according to the Prince George's Cuonty Court Clerk's Office.

A jury found Utter guilty of second degree assault, and he was on probation until Sept. 23, 2001.

Utter was arrested last week for indecent exposure.

Fairmont Police accuse Utter of exposing his genitals to a woman in an alley between Benoni Avenue and Walnut Avenue Thursday, according to his criminal complaint.

The woman picked Utter's picture out of a police photo array Friday, the complaint states.

This is the second time he's faced the charge in West Virginia.

Bridgeport Police arrested Utter for the same charge back in March 2006.

Utter was accused of exposing himself to a 15-year-old girl on Johnson Avenue.

Prosecutors entered into a pretrial diversion with Utter, meaning his charges would be dropped if he stayed out of trouble.

The Harrison County Prosecutor's Office said Utter is past the time when his charges could have been re-filed.

Utter works for Harrison County EMS and the Taylor County Emergency Squad.

Both organizations say they are investigating the matter internally.

Utter also works at Anmoore EMS.

Fake prescription gets woman arrested

2009-11-18T11:15:00.003-05:00

ST. ALBANS -- St. Albans police are investigating after a convicted felon attempts to pick-up a fraudulent prescription.
According to St. Albans Police, shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday, workers at the pharmacy in the Kroger Supermarket called police when a woman came in to pick up a prescription that was fraudulent.

The pharmacy had been alerted to the scam by the pharmacy at the St. Albans K-Mart. In verifying a prescription in the same name, it was discovered that the physician had not issued it.

The prescription was for Lortab, a narcotic pain killer.

The woman that came to pick up the filled prescription was Lisa Michele Burnsworth, 40. The prescription was in her boyfriend's name.

She was arrested and taken to Kanawha County Magistrate Court for arraignment.

She was charged with attempting to obtain a fraudulent prescription. Burnsworth was released on a $20,000 personal recognizance by Magistrate Carol Fouty.

Burnsworth is on federal supervised release in relation to a meth lab conviction from a 2005 meth lab arrest in St. Albans.

She is employed at a doctor's office in the Charleston area, but not the same doctor whose name was used on the fraudulent prescription.

Bank robber back in prison

2009-11-18T11:08:00.001-05:00

FAIRMONT — A convicted bank robber charged with holding up the Hi-Life Lounge on Fairmont’s East Side this summer is back in prison following a federal preliminary hearing last week.

Farmington resident Roy Franklin Hillberry II, 31, allegedly violated conditions of federal supervised release when he was charged with first-degree robbery for the Hi-Life Lounge incident in July.

Hillberry was convicted for federal bank robbery in 2004 in the Southern District Court of Ohio. He was sentenced to 51 months in prison to be followed by three years supervised release.

More time for inmate

2009-11-18T11:04:00.002-05:00

FAIRMONT — An incarcerated Fairmont man will be spending a few more years in jail following a plea hearing in Marion County Circuit Court Tuesday.

Raymond Frederick Leonard, 27, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of delivery of a controlled substance and violating terms of probation for an incident in which he allegedly delivered hydrocodone pills to undercover officers.

Leonard was sentenced to one to five years in prison for each offense by Marion Judge David R. Janes, which will be delivered concurrently.

According to the criminal complaint as read by Marion Prosecutor Pat Wilson at Tuesday’s hearing, Leonard allegedly delivered one crushed and 10 full hydrocodone pills to members of the Three Rivers Drug Task Force.

High speed chase

2009-11-18T10:58:00.001-05:00

A Barbour County man who led police on a chase through two counties Sunday at speeds that sometimes exceeded 105 miles per hour is in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $75,000 bond.

According to the report, Jonathon Swiger, 22, of 410 Locust Ave., Belington, was being pursued by the Barbour County Sheriff's Department on Talbott Road in Barbour County when the deputy lost sight of Swiger's black 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier. Cpl. T.A. Menendez of the Buckhannon detachment of the West Virginia State Police was notified and proceeded to the Talbott Road where he saw Swiger turn left onto Route 33 and fail to stop at the stop sign. Menendez began to pursue Swiger and at times Swiger was reaching speeds in excess of 105 miles per hour. When approaching Childer's Run Road in Upshur County, Cpl. Troy Brady III of the Upshur County Sheriff's Department was waiting in the center between the east- and west-bounds lanes with his emergency lights flashing. Upon seeing the sheriff's vehicle, Swiger then pulled over and came to a stop.

An investigation revealed that Swiger was driving on a revoked license for under the age of 21 with a measurable amount of alcohol. Swiger was charged with driving on a suspended license and fleeing from an officer in a vehicle, both misdemeanors. Swiger is also wanted for an undisclosed felony in Barbour County.

Cell tower break in

2009-11-18T10:36:00.002-05:00

Two Kanawha County men have been arrested after Fayette County authorities say they broke into a cell phone tower site and stole copper wire.

Michael Jarrell, 23, and Steven Little, 25, both of Gallagher, were charged with breaking and entering, grand larceny and destruction of property with a value greater than $2,500, Sheriff Steve Kessler said. Jarrell was held at Southern Regional Jail on $15,000 bond. Little was released on $15,000 bond.

At 1:55 a.m. Monday, a break-in at a U.S. Cellular tower on Paint Creek Road, near Mossy, was reported, Kessler said. According to the preliminary investigation, those responsible accessed the facility by cutting through a security fence. They then forced their way into a buildings and cut several lengths of electrical wire. Damage at the tower site was more than $3,000.

Deputy W.K. Willis checked the area for potential suspects and made contact with two people who had copper wire in their vehicle, Kessler said. He was able to find out the pair had rented a room at the Midway T&C Motel in Mossy the previous evening.

Kessler said deputies executed a search warrant at the room and recovered a “substantial” quantity of copper wire and tools apparently used in the theft. Based on information gathered in the preliminary investigation, charges were filed against Jarrell and Little.

Kessler noted there are numerous reports of cellular tower site break-ins. Deputies have investigated two reported break-ins at a tower site in the Pea Ridge Road area of Oak Hill, and there have been several break-ins at sites in the Powellton area. He said people responsible for such crimes cost businesses a substantial amount of money and endanger public safety.

“When thieves target these cellular tower sites, they steal copper wire that they then sell for a few dollars at scrap metal dealers,” Kessler said. “These thefts cost the cellular companies thousands of dollars to repair the damages done by these thieves.

“In an age where more and more people are relying on cellular phones for all of their communication needs, this type of theft could easily result in the loss of someone’s life. Imagine the possibility of being unable to contact 911 to request an ambulance for a loved one because a thief has damaged a cellular tower to gain a few quick dollars.”

Murder suspect assaults step-father

2009-11-18T10:26:00.002-05:00

A Fayette County man charged with murder in the November 2008 death of his son is back in jail after being arrested on a domestic battery charge.

Henry Clay Jenkins, 35, of Oak Hill, who had been free on $40,000 bond, was charged Monday with misdemeanor domestic battery. Sheriff Steve Kessler said Jenkins would remain jailed until his bond status could be considered in Fayette Circuit Court.

Kessler said deputies responding to a domestic situation on Summerlee Road in Oak Hill determined Jenkins had physically assaulted his stepfather.

Jenkins was awaiting trial on a murder charge in the death of his 14-year-old son, Christian Clay Jenkins, a cystic fibrosis patient who died in a Charleston hospital last November.

A state medical examiner’s autopsy indicated the use of illicit drugs was a contributing factor in Christian Jenkins’ death, Kessler said. Investigators also determined prompt medical attention was not sought for the boy after he encountered respiratory distress.

Henry Clay Jenkins was charged with murder in late May and was indicted by a county grand jury in September.

3 try to rob Kroger's

2009-11-17T15:50:00.001-05:00

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Three Charleston men were in jail Tuesday after allegedly trying to rob a Kroger store on the city's West Side.

Sgt. Autumn Davis of the Charleston Police Department said Emmanuel Covington, 18, allegedly walked into the Kroger store on Delaware Avenue at about 6:30 a.m. and looked around before going back outside. A short time later, 18-year-old Terrance Bright, wearing a hooded sweatshirt, allegedly walked into the store and put his finger in the clerk's back as if he had a gun.

Raimonde Singleton, 19, was apparently waiting outside in a car.

Davis said Bright allegedly demanded money from the store clerk. When he refused, Davis allegedly fled the store. He and the others piled into the car and drove off, Davis said.

Davis said police stopped the car about a block away on Delaware Avenue and Randolph Street.

Covington, Bright and Singleton were all arrested and charged with first-degree robbery, said Kanawha County Magistrate Jack Pauley. They were in South Central Regional Jail on Tuesday in lieu of $75,000 bond each.

Man gets 1 to 5 yrs for assault

2009-11-17T08:42:00.001-05:00

A man accused of kidnapping a juvenile could spend the next 5 years behind bars.

Lindsey Tibbs was sentenced to 1 to 5 years for unlawful assault Monday in Judge J.D. Beane's courtroom.

Tibbs was arrested in February 2007.

Police say he allegedly kidnapped a juvenile after a drug deal gone bad.

Authorities say Tibbs and another individual demanded money and then assaulted the victim.

He was orginally charged with kidnapping, which is a capital offense.

Tibbs pleaded guilty to the unlawful assault charge in a plea agreement with the state.

He's in the North Central Regional Jail

3 arrested in stabbing death

2009-11-17T08:27:00.002-05:00

CLARKSBURG -- Three suspects have been arrested in the October 25, 2009 death of a Harrison County man.
Alexander Calvin Bosley, 22, of Clarksburg, Cindy Virginia Allman, 18, of Idamay (formerly Florida), and Jeffery Powell Taylor, 20, of Meansville, Ga., face first degree murder charges and commission of a felony for their part in the murder of Terry Lewis, 61, at his Hastings Run home, near Quiet Dell.

The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department says the motives were robbery and revenge. According to the criminal complaint, Bosley had known Lewis as a child and was “seeking revenge for incidents that occurred during his childhood.” They also believed he had money in his residence.

Marano would not specify how Bosley knew Lewis or why he wanted revenge.

Bosley is said to have driven the other two suspects to Lewis’ home and waited outside. Allman and Taylor reportedly entered the home while the family was at home and sleeping.

Taylor is then believed to have cut Lewis’ throat, then Allman stabbed him after an altercation outside of the bedroom. Allman and Taylor then fled the scene with Bosley. Lewis died of his wounds on the scene.

The Sheriff’s Department said Lt. Pat McCarty has worked solely on this case since the incident happened in October. Marano said the case was solved thanks in large part to citizens who stepped forward with information in the last few days.

Allman was arrested in Marion County at approximately 1 a.m. on Monday. Taylor was arrested in his hometown of Meansville, Ga, near Atlanta at 1 p.m. by the Pike County Sheriff Office SWAT Team. Bosley was arrested just before 3 p.m. on Monday in Harrison County. All arrests were made without incident.

All three have confessed to the murder.

Marano said Bosley knew Allman and Taylor through a network of friends. Allman and Taylor had not been in West Virginia for long. They both reportedly came to the area for separate relationships, and were not believed to have come to the area specifically to commit the crime.

Trial is pending Taylor's extradition to West Virginia.

3 arrested on drug charges

2009-11-16T16:02:00.001-05:00

MOUNDSVILLE -- According to police, Willie Harris, Sumer Wilson and Andrew Whipkey were arrested in Moundsville late Saturday night by West Virginia State Police.
The three are all charged with possession with the intent to deliver and conspiracy.

Wilson and Whipkey bonded out on Sunday, but Harris remains in the northern regional jail on $20,000 bond.

Man arrested on drug charges

2009-11-16T15:53:00.001-05:00

INSTITUTE, W.Va.- A man from Dunbar faces drug charges after police say they found crack cocaine in his possession.

The alleged crime happened Friday night in a parking lot near the Smoot Avenue Apartments in Institute.

According to a news release, Kanawha County Sheriff's Deputies saw several people loitering around in the parking lot where there were "No Loitering" signs posted.

Investigators later found none of the people lived there. Deputies also say they found Jabryan D. Timbers, 25, of Dunbar, with a plastic "Tylenol" bottle containing 20 rocks of crack cocaine and a small bag of marijuana.

The crack cocaine has a street value of approximately $400.00.

Timbers was charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute.

Shots fired leads to arrest

2009-11-16T15:48:00.001-05:00

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Huntington Police arrested one person following a shots fired call in the 1600 block of Doulton Avenue late Saturday night.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Cabell County Magistrate Court, Tyrell Antraun Hughes, 22, has been charged with wanton endangerment.

According to the complaint, Hughes fired a handgun in the Northcott Housing Project.

There were no injuries.

Murder suspect back in court

2009-11-16T14:28:00.002-05:00

The suspect charged in a murder that happened more than four years ago in South Charleston was in court Monday morning.

Thomas "Drew" Bess plead not guilty to charges of first degre murder in the death of Brandon Green.

Green was murdered outside Club Mystique in South Charleston in August 2005.

A second suspect, Hubert Scruggs is being held in a jail in Tennessee on an attempted murder charge.

Man shoots at family members

2009-11-16T14:08:00.003-05:00

WORTHINGTON -- Robert Lee McIntire, 32, is charged with two counts of wanton endangerment.
The Marion County Sheriff's Department says McIntire was in the woods, outside of Worthington, when he got into a dispute with family members.

He fired a pistol, at least three times, at two family members, said deputies.

McIntire was arrested Saturday evening.

He's in the North Central Regional Jail with bond set at $1,500.

Arrest made in weekend murder

2009-11-16T13:59:00.002-05:00

EAST LYNN -- Police in Wayne County have made an arrest in a weekend murder.
According to authorities, Brad Stapleton, 31, of East Lynn, was killed at his home on Bartram Fork Road around 2 a.m. Saturday. Roy Ellison Steele, 26, was arrested and charged with murder.

The two men, along with the victim’s wife, were drinking at the victim’s home. According to police reports, Stapleton left, then came back and the two men began to fight which progressed outside the home.

The victim’s wife told Detective Maynard of the Wayne County Sheriff's Department, that Steele hit her husband in the head with a crowbar.

Stapleton was pronounced dead at the scene. Steele was later arrested in his home.

Male dancer killed

2009-11-15T09:26:00.002-05:00

JUSTICE — Authorities charged a 21-year-old Man resident with the Saturday morning murder of a male exotic dancer, who had performed at Club 2000 in Justice the night before.

Tommy “Blaine” Vance, 21, of Man, was arrested after he allegedly struck Jason Scott, of Myrtle Beach, S.C. around 3:15 a.m., with his white, extended-cab Chevy Silverado truck.

Mingo County Sheriff's Department members said Vance confronted Scott over a girl after Scott's performance and the two became involved in a verbal altercation, which moved to the club’s parking lot.

Vance identified himself as a West Virginia State Police officer, and proceeded to show Scott a fake policeman’s badge and then recovered a .22 caliber rifle from his truck.

The verbal altercation was broken up by club security and Vance left the parking lot in his truck, but did not leave the scene. Police said Vance circled the club five to six times before he struck Scott with his truck, dragging his body 20 to 30 feet.

Vance then fled to the Wyoming County line, only a few miles above the club’s location. Later Saturday morning, Vance returned to Mingo County and drove by the club as police were investigating.

After a short car pursuit, officers apprehended Vance at Stacy’s Equipment, also in Justice, where he was removed from his vehicle at gun-point.

Investigating Officer Larry Thomas explained that evidence of the crime, including blood, tissue and brain matter was found on Vance’s vehicle, as well as the loaded rifle. Thomas also reported that police have a surveillance video that documents the incident scene.

Scott was taken to Logan Appalachian Regional Hospital by Stafford EMS, but died later that morning.

Vance is charged with first-degree murder, fleeing, brandishing a deadly weapon, impersonating a police officer and seven counts of obstructing.

Accessory before the fact

2009-11-15T09:18:00.002-05:00

HUNTINGTON -- There is new information and more charges are filed in a recent shooting at Club Babylon in Huntington.
Huntington police charged Nicole Hughes, 22, with accessory before the fact of attempted murder, a felony charge.

She is in the Western Regional jail.

The incident happened on Nov. 8 around 3 a.m. Huntington police were called to the club for a reported shooting. Three people were wounded and one died.

Reginald Marbury, Sontezz Lomax and Christopher Lewis were wounded.

Marbury was released from the hospital and charged with attempted murder. He's in the Western Regional jail.

Investigators believe Hughes gave Marbury a gun used in the shooting.

During the incident, Joe Porter, 30, from Huntington, was shot by a Huntington police officer. Investigators said Porter pointed a gun at a responding officer. He died a few hours later.

Mobile meth lab

2009-11-15T09:11:00.002-05:00

POINT PLEASANT -- 26 year-old Edward Glenn was pulled over in the 2200 block of Millstone Road after driving away from a traffic stop Thursday, According to a press release from the Mason County Sheriff's Department.
During an investigation, a sheriff's deputy found the materials used to make a meth lab in Glenn's car.

Glenn is in the Western Regional Jail on $50,000 bond.

2 get time for drugs

2009-11-15T08:57:00.003-05:00

Two men are headed to prison after pleading guilty to federal drug charges.

Earlier this week, 35 year-old Alfred Anderson was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

He pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute crack in Mon County.

Also, 27 year-old Isaiah Prince was sentenced to nine years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

He pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the distribution of crack in Marion County.

First degree robbery

2009-11-15T08:53:00.002-05:00

State police arrest a man accused of robbing Saccorsi's Bar in Preston County last month.

28-year-old Steve Dewitt is charged with first degree robbery.

State police say Dewitt went into the bar with a gun on October 6th wearing a clown mask, tied up the bartender, and got away with some cash. Police later recovered the mask and compared DNA with suspects in the case.

Dewitt did confess to the crime, and is being held in the North Central Regional Jail.

6 counts of animal cruelty

2009-11-15T08:49:00.002-05:00

An Elkins man is behind bars after police find several malnourished puppies in his home

25-year old Christopher Knotts is charged with six counts of animal cruelty.

Police say the puppies were covered in feces and their stomachs were bloated.

A local veterinarian also saw the puppies and says they were malnourished, dehydrated and their feet were scalded and peeling because they had been standing in urine and stool.

Knotts is being held in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail.

Elkins Police were assisted by the Humane Officer of Randolph County.

Armed robbery suspect arrested

2009-11-14T11:00:00.001-05:00

WHEELING - Aaron Thomas Holstein is a suspect in two armed robberies, but for now he is only facing charges in one of them.

Wheeling police arrested Holstein, 34, at 10:39 p.m. Thursday in a home at 24 Seventh St. in North Wheeling. He is being held today in the Northern Regional Jail on a charge of aggravated robbery stemming from the Oct. 15 armed robbery of the Family Market Custom Killing butcher shop in Centerville.

Holstein also is suspected of robbing Warwood's Florist Creative Arts & Crafts at gunpoint on Oct. 14, police said.

Today, Wheeling Police Chief Robert Matheny said Holstein formerly lived in Ohio and has family in Belmont County. He said police learned recently that Holstein has lived in the North Wheeling residence for about the past month.

There were similarities in the armed robberies in Warwood and Centerville, according to reports. In both cases, the robber wandered around the business before pulling a small, silver handgun and demanding money.

Matheny said, although Holstein is a suspect in the Warwood crime, investigators are not ready to file charges against him in that robbery.

"We aren't going to jump to any conclusions," Matheny said. "We are not at that juncture in the investigation. He's definitely a suspect, and we're investigating all possibilities."

Warwood's Florist owner Linda Contraguerro said today she was relieved to learn the suspect is behind bars. She said she feared the man who robbed the store would return.

Warwood's Florist employee Alicia Drevna was the woman who faced the gun in that armed robbery. On Wednesday, she saw a picture of Holstein who had just been named as the suspect in the Belmont County robbery. She immediately believed it was the same man who pointed a gun at her.

Man threatens police with shotgun

2009-11-14T10:51:00.004-05:00

MARTINSBURG - A West Virginia State Trooper responding to a report of a psychiatric patient threatening to burn his estranged wife's home on Tuesday night was confronted by a Falling Waters man armed with 20-gauge shotgun when he arrived at the scene.

In what his superiors have described as an act of bravery, Senior Trooper N.K. Campbell was able to wrestle the shotgun from 37-year-old Steven Eugene Rhoe's hands and prevent him from carrying through with his threat.

"Trooper N.K. Campbell showed extreme bravery and dedication to the preservation of life and property of our Berkeley County residents.

We are grateful that this incident turned out the way that it did, with no one getting injured as a result of the careless actions of Mr. Rhoe," 1st Sgt. E.D. Burnett, Troop 2 District 1 Commander, said Wednesday.

Rhoe was arrested and charged with attempted arson, wanton endangerment, fleeing on foot, brandishing, obstructing a police officer and domestic assault.

On Tuesday at about 7:10 p.m., Campbell and Senior Trooper J.R. Barker of the West Virginia State Police's Martinsburg Detachment responded to 35 Sour Lane in Falling Waters for a report of a psychiatric patient who was threatening to burn down his estranged wife's home, according to news release. Campbell was the first to arrive at the scene, followed by Barker.

When Campbell arrived, he saw a man, later identified as Rhoe, run into his estranged wife's home.

During this time, Campbell overheard Rhoe's estranged spouse state that the man was going into the house to retrieve a gun. As Campbell approached the front of the residence, Rhoe appeared at the front door armed with a 20-gauge shotgun in his hands, police said.

Campbell drew his firearm and began ordering Rhoe to drop the weapon. Rhoe failed to comply with the officer's orders and began to walk around the side of the home, police said. At that time, Campbell again ordered Rhoe to drop the firearm and to stop, however, he got no response from Rhoe, police said.

Rhoe then "picked up his pace" and started heading toward a trailer to the side and rear of his estranged wife's home. Campbell approached Rhoe as he was walking into the trailer and sprayed a burst of pepper spray to the man's face. Campbell then gained control of the shotgun and was able to place Rhoe in handcuffs, police said.

At that time, Barker arrived on scene and assisted with placing Rhoe into Campbell's vehicle.

It was later learned that Rhoe was retreating to the second trailer to obtain shells for his shotgun, police said.

Rhoe was taken to Martinsburg's State Police Detachment where he was processed and taken to the Eastern Regional Jail to await arraignment.

Boyfriend stabs girlfriend

2009-11-14T10:32:00.001-05:00

Beckley police say a woman was stabbed during a domestic dispute Friday.

The incident was reported at a Harper Road residence around 8:30 a.m.

Initially, the woman alleged she was stabbed by an unknown white male who fled the scene.

The woman later admitted to police that it was her boyfriend, Joe Edward Jones, 43, of Beckley, who stabbed her during a dispute, Patrolman R.J. Gauldin said.

The woman was taken to Raleigh General Hospital for minor lacerations to the hand and stomach and was released.

Jones was charged with unlawful wounding and was being held at Southern Regional Jail on $20,000 bond. If convicted, he could face one to five years in prison.

4 indicted for robbery & assault

2009-11-14T10:20:00.003-05:00

Christina Mae Stover, 19, Robert Franklin Stover Jr., 23, both of Hurricane, Roland Leonard Tate II, 23, of St. Albans, and Justin Paxson, 20, of Hurricane, were indicted on charges that they beat a man, fracturing his skull, and then robbed him before leaving him on the side of the road.

Robert Stover

Ronald Tate

Justin Paxson

Christina Stover

Sex offender indicted

2009-11-14T10:13:00.001-05:00

A grand jury also indicted Patrick G. Moore, 41, of Poca on three counts of sexual assault and three counts of sexual abuse by a parent or guardian, in addition to possession of child pornography and failure to provide notice of registration changes as a registered sex offender.

Moore was also indicted on charges of fleeing in a vehicle and assaulting a Hurricane police officer after allegedly trying to run him over during a June 14 traffic stop.

Man indicted for murder

2009-11-14T10:09:00.003-05:00

WINFIELD, W.Va. -- A Red House man was indicted this week in the shooting death of a woman in her home and the attempted murder of her fiancé.

Jesse J. Cossin, 21, was indicted by a Putnam County grand jury on charges of murder in the first degree and attempted murder in connection with the Feb. 19 shooting of 20-year-old Angela Dawn Casto and Nick Hanshaw in their home in Red House.

Cossin allegedly knocked on Casto's and Hanshaw's door, then opened fire, hitting Casto in the chest and Hanshaw, 24, in the leg.

Cossin struggled with Hanshaw before fleeing. Casto was pronounced dead at the scene. Police found Cossin hiding in the area.

Man arrested after bones found

2009-11-14T09:59:00.002-05:00

PARSONS, W.Va. -- A Tucker County man has been arrested after investigators found skeletal remains under a shed behind his house during a search for the body of his ex-wife, State Police said Friday.

Wesley Cale Sr., 42, is charged with concealing a body and is being held on $150,000 cash bond at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail, First Sgt. J.A. Wise said.

Cale was arrested at a makeshift camp near Lead Mine in rural Tucker County on Friday afternoon, Wise said. Cale was accompanied by his current wife and his eldest son, but Wise said neither was arrested.

Officers looking for the body of Cale's former wife, Bonnie, found human remains under the dirt floor of a small shed behind Cale's home Wednesday. Bonnie Woods-Cale has been missing since March 2002.

Police are waiting for the state medical examiner to identify the remains and determine the cause of death, Wise said.

"From the state of the body, it appears to us that it wasn't like that person took their own life. Plus it was buried," Wise said. "We're treating the investigation as a homicide."

Troopers have searched Wesley Cale's property near the Tucker-Preston county line before, but decided to return after reopening the case recently, Wise said. This time they returned with ground-penetrating radar to check three sites that interested them, he said.

Information on a State Police Web site for missing adults says Bonnie Woods-Cale was last seen leaving her home March 24, 2002 and had indicated she was heading to Cleveland to obtain a birth certificate for her daughter. Her vehicle was found in Webster County.

Wesley Cale was granted a divorce at some point after Woods-Cale disappeared, Wise said.

Meth lab bust

2009-11-13T10:53:00.004-05:00

Along with confiscating several items used to make meth, officers arrested 48 year old Charles Walker on scene.

Undercover officers then called a second suspect, 46 year old Dwayne Means, on his cell. He turned himself in Thursday afternoon.

Officers say cooking meth is bad enough, but when it's close to a school a totally new set of charges could come into play.

"When they do it this close to school... It's one thing to have a neighbor on each side of you, which shouldn't happen anyway. But that's several hundred children that are gonna be exposed to it." says an undercover officer.

Walker is facing two felony meth charges and is currently in South Central Regional Jail. Means is facing a single felony for attempting to make meth and bonded out. Both have preliminary hearings November 18th

Dewayne Means

Charles Walker

Son guilty of selling drugs for father

2009-11-13T10:08:00.002-05:00

Christopher Holley, 24, of Gallagher pleaded guilty before United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. to the distribution of Oxycontin pills. He admitted his involvement in a Paint Creek-area Oxycontin ring that was led by his father, James Robert Holley, according to court records.

The younger man was recruited by his father to join the conspiracy in 2007 and distributed approximately 2,400 pills in six months. He could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, James Holley obtained pills from Detroit and elsewhere. Already sentenced to prison in connection with the conspiracy were Charles Coiner, George Breckenridge, Terrance Haliburton and Nehemiah Lujoh Allen Griggs. The group sold thousands of Oxycontin pills in Kanawha County over a period of seven years.

Christopher Holley, 24, of Gallagher pleaded guilty before United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. to the distribution of Oxycontin pills. He admitted his involvement in a Paint Creek-area Oxycontin ring that was led by his father, James Robert Holley, according to court records.

The younger man was recruited by his father to join the conspiracy in 2007 and distributed approximately 2,400 pills in six months. He could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, James Holley obtained pills from Detroit and elsewhere. Already sentenced to prison in connection with the conspiracy were Charles Coiner, George Breckenridge, Terrance Haliburton and Nehemiah Lujoh Allen Griggs. The group sold thousands of Oxycontin pills in Kanawha County over a period of seven years.

Legg pleads guilty

2009-11-13T09:50:00.001-05:00

A 53-year-old Beckley man faces up to 26 years in prison after pleading guilty in Raleigh County Circuit Court to, among other things, attempting to kill his then-wife.

Ronald Keith Legg appeared before Judge H.L. Kirkpatrick Thursday, pleading guilty to attempted murder, unlawful wounding, child abuse causing bodily injury and domestic battery.

Prosecutor Kristen Keller said Legg’s convictions stem from Oct. 21, 2007, when, during an argument with his then-wife, he hid a kitchen knife in his pants, which he used to stab her four times in the chest and temple

Keller said Legg also stabbed his 13-year-old daughter in the lower abdomen when she attempted to intervene.

Legg then fled the scene and hid until he was captured days later in Monroe County.

During the plea hearing, Legg told Kirkpatrick he did not dispute the allegations but said he had no memory of stabbing his daughter.

Because Legg pleaded guilty to crimes of violence, Kirkpatrick revoked his bond and remanded him to Southern Regional Jail pending sentencing on Dec. 30.

Beckley police ID bank robber

2009-11-13T09:43:00.001-05:00

Beckley police said Thursday night they had identified the man who allegedly robbed a downtown bank earlier in the day and had obtained a warrant for his arrest.

The warrant charges Remington Alexander Wright, 20, whose last known address was 309 Neville St., Beckley, with bank robbery, said Capt. Jeff Shumate, chief of detectives.

Police allege Wright entered Chase bank on Neville Street just after 1 p.m. Thursday and gave a teller a note demanding money. The teller complied, putting the cash inside a backpack the suspect provided.

Shumate said Wright did not brandish a weapon. Shumate declined to disclose the note’s contents, but he said the teller believed violence was implied when the suspect produced the note.

Wright fled on foot, Shumate said. He is believed to have headed east on Neville Street, toward South Heber Street and the judicial annex construction area.

Police received information after they released surveillance footage of the robbery, Shumate said. Later, they positively identified Wright after speaking with people who know him personally. Police also compared photos of Wright they obtained from a crime information center to the surveillance video, and Shumate said they could tell the robbery suspect was the same person.

Shumate said police could not locate Wright at his apartment, located a few blocks from the bank, or elsewhere Thursday.

A bank robbery conviction carries a 10-to-20-year prison sentence, Shumate said. The federal government can also become involved in bank robbery cases, but that choice lies with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Shumate said Wright is believed to still be in the Beckley area, but he possibly has relatives in Texas. He is not believed to own a vehicle.

Shumate urged anyone who may come in contact with Wright to call police.

“Robbery is a very heinous crime,” he said. “Like with any other person who commits such a crime, we always recommend that if you see the suspect or know his whereabouts, call local law enforcement.”

Shumate praised Chase, which had a digital surveillance system that gave police clear images. Employees were extremely helpful. He noted they did what police always recommend anyone confronted with a robber should do — remain calm, comply with demands and be observant.

Those who have information about Wright’s whereabouts are urged to call the Beckley Police Department at 304-256-1708 or Crime Stoppers at 304-255-7867. Crime Stoppers also accepts tips online at www.crimestoppersofraleighco.org.

Ruggles pleads guilty of incest at trial

2009-11-12T12:25:00.003-05:00

A local man accused of incest entered a guilty plea recently on the second day of his trial.

Billy James Ruggles, 32, entered a guilty plea to incest on the second day of his court trial. According to Logan Prosecuting Attorney John Bennett, Ruggles faced multiple charges on two victims.

Court documents said Ruggles may face the Habitual Criminal Act.

In his plea agreement, Ruggles pleaded guilty to incest and stated he was addicted to pain pills, was under the care of a physician for a mental disorder and has a short-term memory problem. In Ruggles’ plea agreement, he said the victim came to his room and ‘We talked, kissed and eventually had sex."

Ruggles faces 5-15 years in prison. In return for the guilty plea, three other charges against him were dismissed. Ruggles is lodged in the Southwestern Regional Jail at Holden awaiting sentencing.

Brief standoff leads to arrest

2009-11-12T12:19:00.002-05:00

PIE — A Mingo county man was arrested after allegedly holding his wife hostage at Pie yesterday evening.

Mingo County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy James Smith said this morning that David Burgess of Pie was arrested and charged with domestic assault and three counts of obstructing after he allegedly threatened to kill his wife and anyone who entered their residence Monday around 4:30 p.m.

"It was a scary situation," Smith said.

According to Smith, the police report stated that Burgess's wife said her husband had been just come from an appointment at the Logan-Mingo Mental Health clinic in Chattaroy and they were on their way home when he developed road rage over another car on the highway and started passing vehicles.

Smith said the report stated that the road rage escalated into Burgess telling his wife he would kill her and anyone who entered their residence at Pie.

Smith said Burgess loaded a .38 pistol and a .410 shotgun and then called St. Mary's Hospital in Huntington and officials at the hospital called Mingo County 911 and alerted police to the threat.

Smith said the wife locked herself in a bedroom and deputies gained entrance to the home after they called for Burgess from loudspeakers and his daughter came outside to tell police her father was laying on the couch.

When deputies entered the home, Burgess was laying on the couch and was not in possession of the weapons, Smith said.

According to the report, Burgess was placed on the ground and cuffed by the deputies.

Sgt. James Muncy, Cpl. P. Muncy and Deputy Kevin Ball made the arrest. Burgess was transported to the Southwestern Regional Jail, where he was booked and lodged.

Smith said the hostage situation took about an hour to resolve and everyone got out unharmed.

Man arrested in shooting

2009-11-12T12:06:00.002-05:00

MONTCALM -- One man is behind bars and another hospitalized after a shooting in Mercer County.
State Troopers arrested Damien Lusk, 30, of Montcalm after they said he shot another man during an argument.

It happened at around 8 p.m. Nov. 11 near the Prudich Medical Center in Montcalm.

Troopers said Lusk and Jerome Allen, 36, got into a fight and Allen was shot multiple times.

Allen was transported to Bluefield Regional Medical Center and is listed in stable condition.

Lusk was charged with malicious wounding and was taken to the Southern Regional Jail

Sexual abuse and incest charges

2009-11-12T11:58:00.001-05:00

BUCKHANNON -- Upshur County sheriff's deputies arrested a man, Tuesday, on three felony charges.
Clifford Moore, 53, of Adrian, is facing one count of third-degree sexual abuse and two counts of incest, deputies said.

He was arraigned in Upshur County Magistrate Court Tuesday afternoon.

Moore is being held in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on $120,000 bond

Stolen chainsaw leads to stabbing

2009-11-12T11:51:00.001-05:00

DAVY – An argument over a chain saw led Tuesday to the stabbing of one McDowell County resident and the arrest of another.

The West Virginia State Police was dispatched after a fight was reported at 4 p.m. in Davy, said the investigating officer, Trooper J.S. McCarty.

“There was a verbal altercation between two subjects that originated over a stolen chain saw,” McCarty said. “It led to a physical altercation between them. At the end, one of the subjects had been stabbed in the upper torso at least one time.”

Dock Roberts, 35, of Davy was transported to Welch Community Hospital where he was listed in stable condition, McCarty said.

Troopers arrested Anthony Cantrell, 41, also of Davy. Cantrell was charged with one count of malicious wounding, assault during commission of a felony, and one count of brandishing. He was remanded to the McDowell County Jail pending arraignment.

Sgt. W.C. Tupper, Sgt. A. Maddy, Trooper First Class B.J. Garretson and Senior Trooper J.W. Keffer also worked on the case.

Pagan due in court

2009-11-12T11:44:00.002-05:00

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- A Pennsylvania man charged in a federal indictment targeting the Pagans Motorcycle Club is due to enter a plea to a charge of interstate travel in aid of racketeering.

Forty-eight-year-old Philadelphia resident Vincent Pezzano's arraignment is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Stanley in Charleston.

Pezzano is one of several members or associates of the Pagans accused of traveling to West Virginia to give the proceeds of what prosecutors say was an illegal raffle to club leaders in April 2008.

The charge is one of 44 leveled at Pagans members and associates from West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Florida by federal prosecutors last month.

Pezzano has been held in the South Central Regional Jail since Oct. 29.

2nd escapee turns himself in

2009-11-12T11:38:00.002-05:00

After nearly three weeks on the run, an escaped Mount Olive Correctional Complex inmate is back in jail.

William Okey Cline, 25, turned himself into the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Department just after midnight today, according to Sheriff Randall Aliff.

Cline was found to be missing from the complex’s minimum security work camp Oct. 26.

Aliff said Cline had been in the Hanover area, where he had relatives and where authorities had been searching since his escape.

“We had some good intelligence on him,” Aliff said, adding authorities were closing in on the escapee.

Cline was sentenced to one to 10 years in prison for daytime burglary and considered a non-violent offender.

He was transported to Southern Regional Jail, Aliff said, then will be returned to Mount Olive.

A second inmate, Kenneth Ray Hager, who escaped at the same time, turned himself into Boone County authorities Nov. 6.

Brothers busted for heroin

2009-11-12T10:54:00.001-05:00

BERKELEY SPRINGS - Two brothers were arrested after an undercover deputy with the Morgan County Sheriff's Department purchased heroin from one of them, Sheriff Vince Shambaugh said Wednesday.

William Ambrose and Kelly Ambrose were both arrested Monday as part of an ongoing drug investigation, which also yielded additional suspicious substances from their car, Shambaugh said.

Deputies had made arrangements with "a subject identified as William Ambrose to purchase 5 grams of heroin for the sum of $500," Shambaugh said.

A deputy met the brothers near Berkeley Springs, where he purchased 3.5 grams of a substance that field-tested positive for heroin, he said.

The purchase was made from Kelly Ambrose, Shambaugh said.

"Directly after the transaction, the vehicle operated by the Ambrose brothers was stopped by Morgan County sheriffs' deputies," he said, and Kelly and William Ambrose were arrested for delivery of a controlled substance.

Police searched the vehicle and the men, and the $500 was recovered, Shambaugh said.

He said the deputies also located and confiscated an "additional 32 capsules containing a brown substance and miscellaneous pills" from the brothers' car.

These substances are being sent to the crime lab for official identification, Shambaugh said.

Both men were taken to the Eastern Regional Jail, where they remained in custody Wednesday night.

Shambaugh said these arrests occurred just two days after his department's SWAT team, investigative and patrol deputies successfully served two separate and simultaneous drug search warrants.

"My office is actively investigating several drug cases, and I anticipate many more warrants and indictments in the near future. There are bigger things to come," he said.

Unfortunately, heroin is not uncommon locally, according to Shambaugh, who said he deals with it far more frequently than he would like as a law enforcement officer.

"Heroin is now our main non-prescription problem in Morgan County. Folks usually graduate from pain killers to heroin, and that's when we have to deal with the overdoses," Shambaugh said.

It's become more of a problem in the last three to four years, he said.

"It's really a matter of supply and demand," Shambaugh said. "We're catching dealers who make multiple trips in a week or month to Baltimore to get this stuff because they know they can get rid of it."

Marbury charged with attempted murder

2009-11-12T10:41:00.002-05:00

HUNTINGTON — One of the men wounded in a weekend shooting at a downtown Huntington night club was charged with attempted murder on Wednesday.

Reginald Marbury, 25, was arrested Wednesday after being released from Cabell Huntington Hospital, where he was treated for a gunshot wound to his left leg, police said.

Investigators said Marbury is responsible for shooting Sontezz Lomax, 29, of Huntington. Marbury is being held in the Western Regional Jail on a $103,000 bond.

According to Capt. Rick Eplin, detectives determined that Marbury fired several rounds from a handgun during an exchange of gunfire at Club Babylon, 831 4th Ave., just after 3 a.m. Sunday morning, Nov. 8.

Investigators said Marbury, a Huntington resident whom police identified earlier in the week as a Michigan native, shot and injured Lomax. Lomax, who was released from the hospital Nov. 8, was arrested by members of the Marshall University Police Department for one outstanding capias warrant unrelated to the shooting. Investigators said Marbury and Lomax were involved in a physical altercation prior to the shooting.

Christopher Lewis, 28, of Thurmond, Ohio, also was shot during the incident. He was treated and released from the hospital.

Police officials have not released details as to who shot Marbury or Lewis.

The three men were wounded before police arrived, and a police officer fatally shot a fourth person identified as Joe Jeremaine Porter, 30, of Huntington, police said. Police said Porter pointed a firearm in the officer’s direction.

“As we speak, there is no ballistic information and there is sketchy witness information at best,” Police Chief Skip Holbrook said Wednesday afternoon before Marbury’s arrest was announced. “We have a pretty fair idea of what happened, but I can’t even say at this point that we can 100 percent say exactly what happened.”

Making that determination is dependent upon ballistic testing scheduled to be conducted at a federal laboratory near Ammendale, Md. Analysts will examine firearms, shell casings and projectiles recovered in the investigation. Holbrook said he hoped to receive test results by sometime next week.

An autopsy determined that Porter died from a single gunshot wound to the chest, police said Tuesday. Huntington Police first learned of shots being fired at the club at 3:06 a.m. Medics were treating Porter at the scene eight minutes later. Porter arrived at the hospital at 3:33 a.m. and died from his injuries at 6 a.m.

Among questions remaining unanswered is the name of the police officer who is believed to have shot Porter, as well as some other details of the exchange of gunfire at the club that lasted for several minutes, according to employees.

In withholding the name of the police officer, Holbrook continued to cite the officer’s mental well-being and physical fitness to deal with anything that may come from the release.

Some specifics are strategically being withheld. It is a method police use to corroborate information gleaned from witness interviews. It helps police separate hearsay from first-hand accounts.

“That is some information we keep close to the chest,” Holbrook said. “Once we’ve exhausted all of our interviews, we’ll be able to share how many weapons were seized, how many rounds were fired and things like that.”

Holbrook said officers hope to release much of the information at once, much like his department did when Marshall University Police officers killed a man in May 2008.

“There is so much information to release, and to do it hodgepodge is an injustice to being able to explain everything in its entirety,” he said. “We’re just trying to gather as much information that we can, so we can accurately explain what happened.”

Huntington Police officers and other emergency responders remained extra vigilant and alert Wednesday. Holbrook said it’s part of a continued effort to protect themselves and the public at large in what he continued to describe as an “emotionally charged situation.” He said this week’s incident is no different than typical increased awareness that follows any high-profile event.

The ballistics laboratory analyzing evidence in the case is staffed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Local authorities do not use the laboratory on a routine basis, but Holbrook said the city’s recent participation in an ATF gun crimes task force made the laboratory a readily available option.

14 yr old boy and family remain in jail

2009-11-12T10:06:00.004-05:00

CHARLESTON, W.Va.--It has been nearly five months since Phyllis Jean Phares, 82, was found dead in her West Side home.

The 14-year-old boy police arrested in her death still waits to see whether he will be prosecuted as an adult.

Five of his family members remain behind bars on various charges filed in the days after Phares' death, unable to post bonds or meet other terms set for their release.

Lawyers for two family members, both court-appointed, believe their clients' bonds are too high.

"Twenty-five thousand dollars cash... she'll never be able to make that," said Ed Bullman, a Charleston lawyer representing Trina Mallo, 27, who was charged with child neglect resulting in injury. "It might as well be a million."

Trina Mallo
Trina's two children, ages 6 and 7, are in the custody of state Child Protective Services. She and her parents were charged with child neglect in the days after Phares' murder and after Trina's brother Thomas Mallo, 14, had been charged in the slaying.

Officials who entered the Mallo home found it to be in deplorable and dangerous condition for the children.

Bullman said he filed a motion Sept. 24 for Trina's bond to be reduced, but Kanawha Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey denied his request. He said the judge did not give a reason for her ruling.

He said his client is waiting for Trina's case to be sent to the grand jury. That panel will decide whether to proceed with the charges.

Her mother, Carolyn Mallo, 55, also charged with child neglect, is in the same situation.

Carolyn Mallo
Matthew Victor, Carolyn's court-appointed attorney, said proceedings against his client are in a holding pattern.

Victor said he has been trying to get Carolyn out of jail since he was appointed but says he has been thwarted at every pass.

Her bond, initially set at $25,000 cash, was reduced to $15,000 property or 10 percent cash. It also carries the stipulation that she be placed on home confinement upon release.

Victor said Kanawha Circuit Judge Tod Kaufman imposed the stipulation of home confinement but has yet to respond to the lawyer's queries as to the reasons.

Victor said he has not been told whether the home of a relative suggested as a place for Carolyn to serve her home confinement had been approved or denied by home confinement officers.

"What difference does it make if she goes to a halfway house, to Sojourners' or to a relative's?" Victor said. "She's not a flight risk. Where would she go?"

At a July bond reduction hearing, Victor told Kaufman the woman wasn't doing well at South Central. Her false teeth were stolen, he said, and she was suffering from a number of health issues including high blood pressure, short-term memory loss, back and shoulder problems, difficulty walking and asthma.

He said this week that Carolyn was "doing as well as somebody her age and with her health problems could be doing in jail."

Victor said he is disappointed the state is taking so long to move forward on the case.

"Based on my knowledge, the state's investigation is complete and has been for several months," he said. "We're in a holding pattern until there is either an indictment or they cut her loose."

Both Bullman and Victor said they expect their clients' cases to be brought before a grand jury before the end of the court term in January.

Kanawha County Prosecutor Mark Plants said the Mallo family members in custody had bonds set "just like any other offender."

Bill Lester is representing Thomas' brother, Alexandrio "Mikey" Mallo, 23, who was charged with sexually abusing his 7-year-old nephew and is being held on a bond of $25,000 property only. Lester could not be reached.

Alexandrio "Mikey" Mallo
An attorney for Alexander Doran, 67, who is being held on a $25,000 cash-only bond, could not immediately be located.

Alexander Doran
Charles Hamilton, who is representing another brother, Farris Mallo, 30, declined to comment. Farris' bond was reduced to $25,000 property but carries the stipulation that he be placed in home confinement.

Farris Mallo
Plants said his office is still pushing for the transfer of the 14-year-old boy charged in the incident to adult status.

While officials can't name the boy while he retains juvenile status, neighbors identified him after his arrest in Phares' death as Thomas Mallo. His name also has been revealed in family members' public court proceedings.

Plants said, "This is still an ongoing investigation, and we're moving forward with the prosecution, but because he's a juvenile I can't get into any details as to where we are. Juveniles are entitled to just the same, if not more, rights than adults."

Plants said he couldn't comment on the reason for the delay but said the case still is being investigated.

Police made short work of the initial investigation, throwing every available detective at the case.

Phares' body was found in her home on the evening of Sunday, June 14.

Eight members of the Mallo family apparently lived in the small blue house across the street from Phares on Frame Street on Charleston's West Side.

The first to be arrested after the elderly woman's death was Alexandrio. He was arrested two days after Phares' body was found and charged with sexually abusing his 7-year-old nephew. Police said the allegations came from the boy's mother, Trina.

On Wednesday, June 17, Thomas was taken into custody. Police said the juvenile had been charged with the elderly woman's slaying.

The next day, his parents and older sister were arrested and charged with felony child neglect resulting in injury after officials reviewed conditions inside the Mallo home. Trina's two children also lived in the home.

By the end of the week, Farris had been arrested. He was accused of breaking into his ex-wife's home on at least three occasions and raping her. The woman said he had broken into her home and assaulted her the morning of June 14, just hours before Phares' body was found.

Sex crimes asked to be dismissed

2009-11-11T10:15:00.002-05:00

WHEELING -- Attorneys for a Wheeling Island man accused of sex crimes, including sexual assault and incest, are asking for some of those charges to be dismissed.
Douglas Charles Jackson, 40, is also accused of showing pornography to young children, however, his defense argued today that the material the child saw was not obscene, so 20 of the 133 charges should be dismissed.

Judge James Mazzone is giving the state time to review that part of the case before he rules.

Meanwhile, Jackson's trial date is set for Nov. 30. He is in the Northern Regional Jail on a $2 million bond.

County worker arrested

2009-11-11T10:07:00.002-05:00

WELCH -- McDowell County's Animal Control Officer was arrested Tuesday and charged with a half-dozen crimes, including a pair of felonies.
Thomas Franklin Cox, 49, of Skygusty, was in the McDowell County Jail Tuesday night.

West Virginia State Police Trooper 1st Class, J.S. McCarty, said he arrested Cox following an investigation into an alleged attempted rape.

McCarty said he received a complaint from a female Tuesday afternoon. Following the investigation, McCarty said he arrested Cox and charged him with one count each of abduction, attempted first-degree sexual assault, brandishing a firearm, indecent exposure, battery and assault.

McCarty said the incidents allegedly occurred while Cox was acting in his official capacity as the animal control officer.

Details of the incident and the name of the victim were not released. McCarty said Cox will be arraigned before a magistrate Wednesday morning.

Pot plants seized

2009-11-11T10:01:00.000-05:00

MARTINSBURG -Police arrested two people Monday after 158 marijuana plants were found growing in a home near Martinsburg following an anonymous tip about the illegal growing operation.

Both 27-year-old Heather L. Johnson and 33-year-old Nathan W. Johnson, of Shepherdstown Road, were charged with manufacturing a controlled substance.

According to court records, Sgt. Dean Olack of the Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force received an anonymous tip last week about an alleged illegal marijuana growing operation. The tipster said Nathan and Heather Johnson were growing the marijuana in a spare bedroom of their home at 1337 Shepherdstown Road near Martinsburg. Police were told that the two had at least 30 plants growing in the house and also had lights, dirt and other items used to manufacture marijuana.

Based on the tip, Olack and Sgt. D.E. Boober conducted surveillance of the home in an attempt to substantiate the caller's claims. Olack also contacted Cpl. Brian Bean, who ran the defendants' names through the "Operation Green Thumb" system, records show.

The system indicated Nathan Johnson had made three purchases from a company called HydroFarm in Bristol, Pa.. which included purchases of radiant light sources, lenses and odor eliminators.

Based on that information, Olack obtained a search warrant for the home from Berkeley County Magistrate Sandra Miller.

The search warrant was executed Monday by the West Virginia State Police. When they entered the home, police smelled a strong odor of marijuana and noticed several fans in the living room area circulating the air to the rear door. In the spare bedroom, Olack located two large indoor tents. The tents were hooked up to electrical wires and duct work, and each contained marijuana plants, grow lights and an air circulation system.

The first tent contained 30 marijuana plants and the second contained 33. Police also seized 88 small marijuana plants from the master bedroom, as well as other plants found during the search of the home. In all, 158 marijuana plants and equipment used to grow them were seized.

Both Nathan and Heater Johnson were arrested and later arraigned. They were both released after posting $50,000 bail. If convicted they each face one to 15 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $25,000.

Man arrested for murder

2009-11-11T09:51:00.002-05:00

MARTINSBURG - A Martinsburg man charged in the murder of 37-year-old Kenneth Waybright was arrested without incident Tuesday in the basement of his parent's home.

The victim was an innocent bystander from Stephens City, Va., who was killed last year when a stray bullet struck him in the head during a triple shooting outside a local night club.

Elan Bell-Veney, 23, of Gemstone Court, was taken to Eastern Regional Jail to await arraignment Tuesday night by Berkeley County Magistrate Sandra Miller on one count of murder and three counts of felony wanton endangerment.

Police said the arrest occurred between 5 and 5:30 p.m. Tuesday by members of the Berkeley County Sheriff's Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and officers from the Martinsburg City Police Department. Officers were able to make the arrest after information that was obtained from a confidential informant led police to Bell-Veney's location.

"We got a call that he was at his house. We went with probably five officers from City PD - we also had two officers from the ATF and us," said Lt. Gary Harmison of the Berkeley County Sheriff's Department. "They caught him in his basement. Not a problem."

A warrant was obtained charging Bell-Veney with murder last Friday by Harmison, who was the lead investigator in the case, after a witness, one of the surviving shooting victims, cooperated with police and identified Bell-Veney as the shooter.

"We finally got the cooperation of one of the victims. He gave us a statement, and with everything else that we had gotten it was enough to get the warrant," Harmison said.

The shooting happened just before 3 a.m. July 20, 2008, outside what is now known as The Brick House located off of Mid-Atlantic Parkway. At the time, the bar at that location was The Orioles Nightclub.

The second victim, Donzel White, of Martinsburg, who was 23 years old at the time, was struck once with a bullet that passed through his wrist and entered his throat. He was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital and has since recovered.

The third victim, Dale Knight, also of Martinsburg, who was 22 at the time, was shot in the upper leg area and was taken to City Hospital, where he was treated and released.

Knight, who is currently incarcerated in Maryland, was the witness who finally gave police what they needed to obtain a warrant for Bell-Veney's arrest.

"He was actually being interviewed for something else. I told the officer who was interviewing him to ask him about the shooting. He told us everything," Harmison said.

Waybright was taken to City Hospital in Martinsburg after the shooting where he was pronounced brain dead. He was taken off of life support two days later, on July 22. He is survived by his widow, Tracey Waybright, and three children.

The arrest brings to a close a nearly 16-month investigation.

Berkeley County Sheriff Kenneth "Kenny" Lemaster Jr. commended Harmison for his hard work on the investigation, as well the other officers involved in the case.

"Gary worked diligently at it and he never gave up," Lemaster said.

Harmison said investigators suspected Bell-Veney was responsible for the shooting as little as three days after the incident, though a lack of witnesses and a lack of cooperation from witnesses prevented police from obtaining a warrant for his arrest.

Just days after the murder, Bell-Veney fled to California, where investigators said he remained for about four months.

During the course of the investigation, Harmison received a photo array of 18 people and showed it to a witness from Frederick, Md. The witness eventually identified Bell-Veney's picture, records show.

Another witness was also shown a photo array and he too picked out Bell-Veney's picture. Both witnesses were at the bar the night of the shooting, though it took several months to contact the second witness, police said.

On July 27, Sgt. Dean Olack of the Eastern Panhandle Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force interviewed Knight about another case. During the interview, Olack asked Knight abut the shooting. Knight stated that when he came out of the bar with his girlfriend, White and Bell-Veney had gotten into an argument. Knight said he walked toward a car because he said he figured the two men were going to fight. He then told Olack that he saw both men had guns.

He said Bell-Veney started shooting while sitting in his car. Knight said White was hit twice, and Bell-Veney kept firing and he was hit in the leg.

Bell-Veney will be held without bail at Eastern Regional Jail following his arraignment. If convicted of murder, he could face a maximum of up to life in prison.

72 yr old man arrested

2009-11-11T09:41:00.001-05:00

MARTINSBURG -A 72-year-old Pennsylvania man was arrested on two counts of attempted murder Tuesday afternoon after allegedly almost running over at least two police officers during a bizarre police pursuit on Interstate 81.

Thomas Reginald Fleming, of State Line, Pa., also faces charges of attempted malicious assault, reckless driving, destruction of property and fleeing in a vehicle from a law enforcement officer.

"The Interstate was extremely busy at that time ... fortunately he got stopped before he could hurt anybody," Berkeley County Sheriff Kenneth "Kenny" Lemaster Jr. said Tuesday night.

When then pursuit finally came to an end, Lemaster said Fleming's minivan had four flat tires caused by police stop sticks, and he was driving on the vehicle's exposed rims.

Several police cruisers were damaged during the pursuit, though Lemaster said they appear to be repairable.

According to a news release, the pursuit began shortly after Deputy Bruce White of Berkeley County Sheriff's Department was dispatched to I-81 South for a report of a reckless driver. Central dispatchers told White that they had received several calls about a vehicle that had stopped in traffic on the Interstate, police said.

When White arrived in the area of the southbound 16 mile marker, he spotted the vehicle in the center lane traveling at about 10 mph. White tried to gain the driver's attention by using his lights and siren, but Fleming continued to travel south without acknowledging the officer's presence, police said.

When White looked into the minivan, he noticed the driver had both hands on the steering wheel with his head tilted, and he appeared like he might have passed out. When White pulled up to the driver's side of the vehicle and looked in again, Fleming's head popped up and he was looking straight ahead.

Fleming then started to speed up to about 40 mph and continued to travel south on I-81 without stopping for the deputy.

Several other deputies responded to the area, including Deputy Daniel Clarke and Deputy J.H. Jenkins, who both set up positions at the 12 mile marker to assist White. As they approached the 12 mile marker, Clarke and Jenkins moved their vehicles around the suspect's van in an attempt to box the vehicle in and stop it, police said.

Fleming initially started to slow down and came to a stop. Clarke and Jenkins approached the van, but Fleming accelerated, almost running Clarke over before veering toward Jenkins. Jenkins was able to jump out of the way.

Fleming then continued to flee, traveling south on I-81 with deputies continuing to follow him. White passed Fleming's van in an attempt to slow him down. At about the 8 mile marker, deputies slowed the suspect down to about 15 to 20 mph.

Fleming then turned into the median and crossed over to the northbound side of I-81, before accelerating to speeds of about 100 mph. At several times during the pursuit, Fleming attempted to ram and hit police cruisers involved in the chase, police said.

With the pursuit ongoing, additional deputies and West Virginia State Police troopers started to respond to the area to provide assistance. Several police units went to the 15 mile marker and deployed spike strips in order to slow Fleming's van down. Once Fleming ran over the spike strips, his van slowed down and drifted into the median, where it finally came to a stop after making contain with the median cable barriers.

Several officers were able to gain control of Fleming and he was arrested.

Fleming was taken to Eastern Regional Jail to await arraignment by Magistrate Sandra Miller.

Man cuts girlfriend

2009-11-11T09:32:00.002-05:00

Police arrested a Charleston man accused of cutting his girlfriend with a box cutter.

Angela Fowler of Shewsbury Street told Charleston police Sunday that her boyfriend, identified as James Wesley Green, 54, of Kanawha Boulevard East, cut her left ear with a box cutter, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Magistrate Court.

The two had been in a romantic relationship for the past two years, police said.

Fowler was transported to Charleston Area Medical Center's General Hospital where she was treated for her injuries and released.

Green was arrested Sunday and charged with felony malicious wounding. He is being held at South Central Regional Jail

2 caught for B&E

2009-11-11T09:10:00.004-05:00

A break-in at a West Side home led to the arrest of two Charleston men.

Charleston patrolmen D.C. Goffreda and N.S. Simms were dispatched Monday evening to investigate a breaking-and-entering complaint at a vacant home on Sixth Street that was being used as a storage space.

Officers said when they arrived on the scene they spotted two men who started to run, according to a complaint filed in Kanawha Magistrate Court.

The two ran west on Sixth Street, north on Florida Street and then crossed a set of railroad tracks to Sixth Avenue, where they were apprehended, police said.

Police identified them as Christopher Daniel Sargent, 21, of Grant Street and Christopher Scott Murvine, 19, of Monroe Street.

Sargent told officers he and Murvine had broken into the house through the back door to "steal what they could find in it," according to the complaint.

Police said Sargent told them they had just left the house and locked the door behind them when they heard a neighbor outside calling the police.

The two have been charged with felony breaking and entering and fleeing. Both are being held at South Central Regional Jail.

Christopher Sargent

Christopher Murvine

Tax deputy pleads guilty

2009-11-11T09:05:00.000-05:00

FAYETTEVILLE — Former chief tax deputy Thomas Woodrum entered a guilty plea in Fayette County Circuit Court Tuesday to an information charging him with one count of felony embezzlement.

The information was filed by Raleigh County assistant prosecutor Ed Bibb, who was appointed to the case after Fayette Prosecuting Attorney Carl Harris recused himself.

Special Senior Status Judge Frank Jolliffe was also appointed to hear the case after Fayette circuit judges John Hatcher and Paul Blake recused themselves.

Woodrum pleaded guilty to embezzling $55,054, which, according to Sheriff Steve Kessler, came from the county’s jury fund.

Jolliffe told Woodrum that, under the plea agreement, he is required to make full restitution and reminded him that no conditions or agreement exists in regard to sentencing.

Woodrum admitted to taking money from the county tax department from Jan. 1, 2005, to Feb. 3, 2009, when he turned himself in.

Woodrum, who had been the sheriff’s chief tax deputy since 1997, also served as a Fayetteville city councilman, but resigned both posts after admitting to the embezzlement.

Officials say Woodrum cooperated with Kessler and auditors during the investigation.

“Mr. Woodrum’s attorney (Chris Moorehead) approached me on the third day of February, when I had only been in office about 30 days,” Kessler said Tuesday. “He stated that Woodrum had taken money from the tax office and was willing to come forward and tell us where he had taken it from and what he had done.”

Kessler added Woodrum’s cooperation did save time by telling investigators where to look.

“A lot of trust is placed on the chief tax deputy, and we are not the only county this has happened to,” he continued. “I have known Thomas Woodrum for a very long time, and he has worked for the county about as long as I have. I was shocked and disappointed, but I think we did the right things and have handled it properly.”

Woodrum, 57, faces a possible sentence of one to 10 years in prison, or up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

His bond was set at $25,000. He will be sentenced Jan. 15

Woman gets time for drugs

2009-11-11T08:52:00.002-05:00

A Canadian woman was sentenced to 15 months in prison for possessing cocaine with intent to distribute.

Tiffany Lyn Wilson, 23, of Ontario, pleaded guilty in August, admitting that she and her boyfriend, Gino Andrea Washington, traveled from Canada to West Virginia to sell crack and oxycodone pills, according to the release.

Felon with a firearm

2009-11-11T08:42:00.001-05:00

Ahmad Jahnar Broadnax, 30, of Toledo, Ohio, will spend another two years and 9 months in prison.

Broadnax, also known as "Boston," had pleaded guilty in August without benefit of a plea agreement. He was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Broadnax was arrested Jan. 23, when officers and agents executed a search warrant in the 300 block of Division Street in Huntington.

The indictment stated Broadnax possessed a Hi-Point .45-caliber pistol and a .22-caliber revolver on the date of the search. A criminal complaint had stated both weapons were loaded and within several feet of Broadnax.

Broadnax was convicted Aug. 17, 2000, in Lucas County, Ohio, of possessing crack cocaine. He also was convicted Jan. 6 ,1999, in the same county of grand theft auto, the indictment states.

The West Virginia State Police and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms participated in the case, along with the Huntington Violent Crime Drug Task Force.

Man gets 2 yrs for identity theft

2009-11-11T08:36:00.001-05:00

HUNTINGTON -- Identity theft netted Justin D. Bailey a two-year prison sentence. He was one of two men sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers.

Bailey had pleaded guilty in August to a single count of aggravated identity theft. Federal prosecutors agreed to dismiss additional counts of aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, mail fraud, access device fraud and bank fraud in exchange for Bailey's admission.

The punishment also includes $29,957.04 in restitution.

Bailey signed a stipulation of facts explaining his role in the crime, which occurred between March 25, 2008, and April 28, 2008. The estimated amount derived by Bailey's scheme totaled $48,137, the stipulation states.

Bailey took his victim's identification, used it to apply for a credit card and then activated the card. The stipulation states he applied for the card with a computer located in Hurricane, W.Va., and had it mailed to a residence in the same town.

Bailey used the credit card to buy items in Cabell, Putnam and Kanawha counties totaling $10,796. The transactions affected various people, businesses, banks and others, the stipulation states.

The stipulation also states Bailey used means of identification to obtain bank loans from BB&T Bank, a boat loan from Marine One Financing and credit from First Premier Bank and GEMB/Texico.

Coke dealer sentenced

2009-11-10T13:29:00.000-05:00

A 31-year-old Fayette County man was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison Friday for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Ezra S. Robertson, of Hilltop, pleaded guilty in federal court in Charleston in July, admitting he possessed approximately 10 ounces of cocaine at his home in January.

West Virginia State Police seized the drugs, approximately $64,000 and two firearms from Robertson’s residence.

Former police officer in court

2009-11-09T20:10:00.002-05:00

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A former Dunbar police officer was in federal court Monday to face charges of violating a woman's civil rights.

Raymond Conley didn't have any comment as he left the courthouse. He was there for a plea hearing, where he was expected to plead guilty, but the hearing was pushed back to Nov. 19.

Bill Forbes, the victim's attorney, says Conley abused his power and took advantage of a young woman.

Forbes says Conley pulled the victim and her boyfriend over this past summer. The woman alleges Conley told the boyfriend, then asked her to perform a sexual act on him. In exchange, he offered to not charge her for driving on a suspended license.

Forbes says Conley took the woman to a remote hollow, and she did what he asked because she was scared.

Conley has resigned from the Dunbar Police Department.

2 pagans plead not guilty

2009-11-09T19:48:00.003-05:00

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Two more defendants named in a racketeering case aimed at the Pagans Motorcycle Club have pleaded not guilty to federal charges.

Court records show 49-year-old Philadelphia resident Joseph Fareri and 47-year-old Alexandria, Va., resident John Maggio entered the pleas Monday in Charleston.

Both are charged in the 44-count federal indictment accusing Pagans members and associates from West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Florida of murder conspiracy, kidnapping and other charges.

Maggio's status is likely temporary. He's currently scheduled to plead guilty next week. Maggio is charged with conspiring with indicted club vice president Floyd Moore in an extortion plot.

Drunk driver runs from police

2009-11-09T14:00:00.002-05:00

A suspect is in Charleston Police custody after leading police on a chase.

The chase started just before 10 this morning when the driver a stolen vehicle, Ezra Lambert, headed down I-64 West out of Charleston.

South Charleston Police LT. Hugh Leishman tried to block Lambert on MacCorkle Avenue, but even that didn't work. Leishman says the suspect rammed into his cruiser before continuing on.

A Charleston Officer put out spikes in an attempt to flatten Lambert's tires.

The chase came to an end just past Kanawha Turnpike.

Lambert was taken into custody.

Police tell Eyewitness News Lambert was drunk and on parole. Now, he is facing charges of fleeing DUI causing injury.

Bond revoked for Mauller

2009-11-09T10:49:00.001-05:00

Charles W. Mauller came before the Court for a bond hearing. Mauller was charged with third offense domestic battery. Bond had been set at $50,000 and revoked in Circuit Court. The alleged charges involve his pregnant girlfriend. According to a police report, the victim was treated at the hospital for a broken nose and a swollen jaw.

“The State is concerned with the safety of the girlfriend and her unborn baby,” stated Prosecutor Bord. “We can’t assure the victims safety at this time.”

The Court agreed with the State and ordered that, because of the safety concern, Mauller’s bond was revoked and he was placed in the Regional Jail pending the outcome of this matter. The Court also noted that he was led from the courtroom irate and using foul language.

3rd offense DUI sentenced

2009-11-09T10:40:00.002-05:00

Charles A. Channel came before the Taylor County Circuit Court for sentencing on charges of third offense driving under the influence, (DUI) and third offense driving with a revoked license for DUI. According to Channel’s attorney, Mary Nelson, he completed an in-patient program in 2009 and continues to attend AA meetings.

“This is his seventh DUI conviction, he has been on home confinement, and he continues to drink,” state Taylor County Prosecuting Attorney John L. Bord “The State’s biggest concern is the safety of the public. I don’t think there is a program to help him right now.”

“In January of 2009, you were driving with an alcohol blood level of .275, which was three and a half times the legal limit,” stated Taylor County Circuit Court Judge Alan D. Moats. “And, you were driving with no license. However, the first obligation is public safety. With three offenses, it is only safe to lock you up.”

Channel was sentenced to one to three years in the West Virginia State Penitentiary for third offense DUI, and one to three years for third offense driving while license revoked for DUI with both sentences to run consecutively.

4 cars stolen and burned

2009-11-09T10:01:00.002-05:00

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- Berkeley County police say they had their hands full chasing down reports of cars being stolen and burned over the course of a single day.

The sheriff's department says David Lee Gregory stole four vehicles Saturday morning and burned three. A fourth vehicle was stolen and one of its seats set on fire, but the blaze quickly went out.

The 20-year-old Martinsburg man is being held on a $130,000 cash bond at the Eastern Regional Jail, facing multiple felony charges. It could not be immediately determined if he has a lawyer.

Police didn't suggest a possible motive for the incidents.

Bond denied for murder suspect

2009-11-08T10:17:00.002-05:00

A man charged in connection to a double homicide that happened in Parkersburg in September was back in court Thursday.

James Walters, Jr. has been charged with two felony counts of concealing a dead body. His bond was set at $400,000.

Thursday in court there was a motion to reduce his bond. Judge Robert Waters denied that motion. The case has been bound over to the grand jury.

Walters and Jaymason Robinson face charges related to the deaths of Eric Sprouse and Lester Wratchford.

In September authorities said the victims were fatally shot at a home on the 1100 block of Pike Street and then taken to a wooded area off of Laurel Creek Road where the bodies were found.

Walters and Robinson remained behind bars Thursday.

Jaymason Robinson

James Walters Jr.

Putnam deputies look for fugitive

2009-11-08T10:09:00.002-05:00

WINFIELD -- Putnam County officers are looking for Timothy Allen Ward.
According to Sheriff Mark Smith, Ward was handcuffed to a metal rail while being processed. Ward Got out of the handcuffs and fled the Sheriffs office on foot.

He is described as a white male, between 5 feet 5 to 7 inches tall and weighing 145 to 170 pounds. He has short brown hair with scars on his head and brown eyes. He is wearing a ripped up black shirt and blue jeans and is barefoot. He has numerous tattoos including one on his neck of praying hands.

Sheriff Smith is asking anyone that sees Ward to call Putnam 911 and not to approach him

Sex offender from Ohio arrested

2009-11-08T10:03:00.001-05:00

LOGAN -- A wanted sex offender from Ohio is arrested in West Virginia early Saturday morning.
The U.S. Fugitive Task Force arrested John Walker at a home in Logan after a brief struggle. Walker was wanted for parole violations following charges of sexual battery, as well as failing to register as a Sex offender.

Walker is facing additional Sex Offender Registry charges here in the mountain state.

WV murder suspects arrested in Calif.

2009-11-08T09:56:00.001-05:00

Two murder suspects from West Virginia were arrested in the San Diego River bottom’s heavy brush near Hotel Circle Friday night, San Diego police said.

Christopher Robey, 26, and Megan Titus, 21, were arrested by San Diego police after they received a description of the wanted couple’s vehicle from police in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

An SDPD officer found the car at the Premier Inn, said San Diego police Sgt. Nick Borrelli. The couple were not in their room, but it looked like they may have heard police arriving and ran out, he said.

Police used a helicopter to flush out the alleged fugitives hiding in brush along the San Diego River. Police arrested them without incident, Borrelli said.

It is not known how long the couple have been in San Diego, but Robey was arrested on Morena Boulevard on Oct. 9 on suspicion of domestic violence, Borrelli said.

San Diego police officials told the newspaper that they did not have information about the homicide case and Clarksburg police would only say that the couple is wanted for questioning.

Robey is being held in the San Diego Central Jail downtown and Titus is at Las Colinas Detention Facility. Both are being held without bail.

Police in West Virginia would not comment on the nature of their interest in Robey and Titus, according to the State Journal newspaper there.

7-11 robbery,says it was a joke

2009-11-08T09:09:00.002-05:00

WHEELING -- A Wheeling man is facing robbery charges.
According to police, 25-year-old Joshua Michael Tridigo robbed the 7-Eleven in Downtown Wheeling Saturday morning.

Police said he told store employees that he had a gun and was there to rob the store.

Wheeling Police happened to be on the scene for an unrelated call.

When Tridigo realized that there were officers nearby, he told the clerks he was joking.

Tridigo was taken into custody and charged with robbery.

Lewis County indictments

2009-11-07T12:03:00.003-05:00

Kristopher A. Speas, 27, Weston - grand larceny and conspiracy.

Eric J. Metz, 39, Weston - armed robbery, malicious wounding, conspiracy, burglary and petit larceny.

Christopher L. Eakle, 27, Clarksburg - entering without breaking, attempted grand larceny, grand larceny and conspiracy

Triple murder charges

2009-11-07T11:43:00.003-05:00

Triple murder charges against a Virginia man will head to a Hardy County grand jury for consideration.

Nakia Keller, 34, of Rockingham County, Virginia appeared before Hardy County Magistrate Daniel Poling for a preliminary hearing Thursday afternoon.

Keller and his wife Lorrie Taylor, 34, are in custody after allegedly shooting and killing Taylor's ex-husband Chip, his wife Alaina Taylor, and Alaina's five-year old daughter Kaylee.

Testimony during Thursday's hearing said each victim was shot at least once and then their house in the Hardy County community of Mathias set on fire.

Investigators say Chip and Lorrie Taylor were in a custody battle over their three children.

Magistrate Poling ruled there was enough evidence against Keller to forward the charges. He was returned to the Potomac Highlands Regional Jail without bond.

Lorrie Taylor's preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. She also remains in jail.

Felon arrested with firearm

2009-11-07T11:32:00.002-05:00

Joshua Collins, 24, of Holden, was arrested in Logan County by West Virginia State Police Trooper P.J. Dick for being a felon in posession of a firearm on Oct. 17. According to police reports the officer was asked to perform a house search on behalf of a probation officer.

"After returning to the Logan detachment....(another individual) brought a shotgun to the office and stated that she had found it in the outbuilding," the report states. "She further stated that she knew he had been hunting with the weapon. ...The owner of the weapon stated he loaned the shotgun to Collins so he could hunt with it."

Gilco enters guilty plea

2009-11-07T11:24:00.001-05:00

A local woman entered a guilty plea in the robbery case of elderly Man area woman which led to the victim's death.

Authorities say three individuals plotted to rob the victim and when the robbery went wrong it turned into a brutal homicide.

Jeananne Gilco entered a guilty plea on Oct. 26 in Logan Circuit Court. Gilco entered a guilty plea to the charge of first degree robbery, which carries a possible sentence of 10-244 years.

Gilco also faces the possibility of having the Habitual Criminal Act applied to her which could enhance any penalties she receives.

According to court documents, Gilco admitted to being hooked on drugs and alcohol and suffering from mental disorders.

"I was in Crown, with Hurston Simpkins (and) David Huffman arrived and we got into a car," Gilco stated in a court document. "He asked Hurston to go in an apartment with him while he robbed it. Hurston agreed. We went to the apartment and they went in. David was beating a woman, so I yelled for Hurston to come in from the bedroom area. He saw the situation and we ran."

Gilco is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 20, 2010.

Last year, Gilco's codefendant David Huffman, 30 of Gilbert gave testimony in court about his part in the robbery of Zola Hatfield which led to her death. Huffman had agreed to enter a guilty plea and agreed to roll over on co-defendants Hurston Simpkins and Gilco.

Huffman said Gilco and Simpkins plotted with another individual to rob the elderly woman, who was believed to have OxyContin.

The report said the trio planned on swapping the pills for crack cocaine as they had been on a crack binge on Jan. 4, 2007. At the last moment, the third individual could not be found and Huffman was asked to get involved, the report said.

"I did not want to do it at first, but we run out of crack," Huffman said. "When you run out, all you want is more."

The trio had allegedly planned on gaining entry to Hatfield's residence and threatening her with a crowbar-type object to get the prescription pain drugs.

"I knocked on the door and told Zola I had to use the phone," said Huffman, who was reportedly friends with the victim. "I walked in and behind me Hurston and Jean Ann ran past me. He struck her in the back of the head. I said, ‘We wasn't supposed to do anything but rob her.'"

Huffman then allegedly went to the bedroom looking for the victim's purse and drugs and heard noises from the kitchen area where Hatfield was reportedly being beaten and stabbed to death. He said he thought the noises were the other two invaders "looking for stuff." When he came out, he said he saw Zola Hatfield dead on the floor and Gilco allegedly told him, "she can't identify us now."

Simpkins reportedly went back to look for a gun, and, when Huffman left, he pulled the door together leaving a bloody palm print. Huffman said Gilco tried to cash some money orders stolen from Hatfield and the person who wanted to buy the stolen gun never showed up.

Gilco allegedly swapped the stolen money orders for crack, and told Huffman to go to her apartment. She allegedly came back furious saying her father had filed a restraining order on her. Later she allegedly said, "They don't have anything on us."

The trio allegedly then ran out of crack and went out to get more, when "the task force picked me up," Huffman explained. He described the weapon used as a metal bar about 18 inches to two feet in length.

Huffman's defense attorney, Jim Walker, pointed out that scientific evidence corroborated Huffman's testimony.

Prosecutor Brian Abraham said at first he was skeptical of Huffman's story, until lab results returned, indicating that the blood on Huffman's clothing was his own. Reportedly, Huffman only had a bloody palm print and a drop of the victim's blood on his shoe despite being at a particularly bloody crime scene.

Walker said Huffman was looking for drugs in a room of the apartment while the victim was in the kitchen with Gilco and Simpkins where the murder took place.

In 2008, Huffman waived his sentencing as well as his right to a jury trial in return for a felony murder conviction and a sentence of life in prison with mercy, meaning he won't be eligible for parole for 15 years.

Pawn shop owner jailed

2009-11-07T10:37:00.003-05:00

BECKLEY -- Bradley Pawn Shop owner, Joseph Bair was arrested Friday, Nov. 6.
Investigators say Biar faces two counts of receiving stolen property. He also faces recent charges involving tax evasion and drug distribution.

"People like Mr. Bair are the pivotal points on which all of our stolen property turns. Without people like him, willing to buy this stolen property, these drug addicts who need to steal it to support their habit have no where to get money. That's why it's so important, not only to us as a law enforcement agency or to the prosecutors office, it's all also important to the public that people like this be prosecuted," said Sgt. Jim Miller, Raleigh County Sheriff's Department.

Bair is being held in the Southern Regional Jail. Bond has been set for $100,000.

Police say Bair's case will go before the next session of the grand jury.

2 arrested in armed robbery

2009-11-07T10:31:00.002-05:00

NITRO -- Nitro police arrested two people Thursday after a man is robbed at knife point.
George Henderson, IV and Stephanie Knox are facing felony charges.

Nitro police said a man reported being robbed at Thursday evening on Third Avenue.

The victim told police Knox lured him out of the home. Police said Henderson then robbed him.

Both suspects are in the South Central Regional jail

Escaped inmate back in custody

2009-11-07T10:18:00.001-05:00

One of two inmates who escaped from a work camp last month is back in custody.

State corrections officials said Kenneth Ray Hager, 30, turned himself in to Boone County authorities Friday.

Hager and William Okey Cline, 25, were discovered missing during a head count Oct. 26 at the minimum-security Slayton Work Camp at Mount Olive Correctional Complex.

Hager was serving time for burglary, grand larceny and breaking and entering in Boone County. Cline was sentenced for daytime burglary in Wyoming County. Cline remained at-large Friday.

Authorities said Hager was being held at Southwestern Regional Jail and would be returned to Mount Olive today.

Woman sentenced in drug charges

2009-11-06T11:00:00.002-05:00

FAIRMONT — A Marion County woman was sentenced in federal district court last week after pleading guilty to drug charges.

Twenty-two-year-old Stacey Marie Longwell of Four States will spend the next 36 months in prison for distributing cocaine base within 1,000 feet of Washington Irving Middle School in Clarksburg in April of 2008. The sentence will be followed by six years supervised release.

According to a press release from acting United States Attorney Betsy C. Jividen, Longwell pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced last Friday in United States District Court in Clarksburg. She is currently in federal custody.

The case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Shawn Angus Morgan and investigated by the Harrison/Lewis County Drug & Violent Crime Task Force.

This unit consists of officers from the Clarksburg Police Department, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, the Bridgeport Police Department, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Second man arrested in robbery

2009-11-06T10:51:00.001-05:00

FAIRMONT — A second man has been arrested in connection with a reported robbery at a Locust Avenue residence earlier this week.

Twenty-four-year-old Fairmont resident Franklin McVay has been charged with first-degree robbery and was arraigned in Marion County Magistrate Court before Magistrate Hank Middlemas Thursday.

According to court documents, the incident occurred at 704 Locust Ave., Apt. 2, in Fairmont Tuesday. The documents state that McVay, “with the assistance of other males,” struck another man with a blunt object and took $200 from him.

Wednesday, 19-year-old Atavio Lee was arrested in connection with the incident. According to a Fairmont police patrolman, Lee was also involved in striking the man with the blunt object and reportedly took money, electronics and personal items from the man.

McVay requested an attorney at his arraignment but has not requested a preliminary hearing. His bond was set at $25,000 cash or surety, which he did not post.

Both McVay and Lee are currently housed at the North Central Regional Jail.

Trial to begin in sex abuse case

2009-11-06T10:41:00.003-05:00

CLARKSBURG — The state wants to use alleged evidence of flight in the case of a man charged with 10 sex-related counts against a pre-teen girl, but the defense will contest it.

Harrison Assistant Prosecutor Stephanie Concodora recently asked the court to set a hearing to determine whether the alleged evidence can be presented to jurors in the trial of Thomas A. Jenkins II. The trial is scheduled to start the week of Dec. 7.

“The State intends to use this evidence in its case in chief as evidence of the defendant’s guilty conscience or knowledge,” Concodora wrote in a motion to Judge John Lewis Marks Jr.

“The ... actions of the defendant show a desire to escape to avoid prosecution due to a guilty conscience,” she wrote. “Consequently, such evidence is more probative than prejudicial. Although the defendant was not in custody of a state agent at the time of the alleged flight, he was being actively pursued by law enforcement and was aware of the charges pending against him.”

Attorney Keith Skeen is representing Jenkins, 38, of Clarksburg. Skeen said he would oppose any attempt to introduce alleged flight evidence.

“Our position will be that (Jenkins) left before he was charged with any crime,” Skeen said Tuesday. “He wasn’t charged with anything, he wasn’t on bond, he was free to go wherever he wanted to go. And he certainly wasn’t fleeing from any authorities or prosecution.”

Concodora’s motion lays out an alleged timeline of events.

According to the court filing, Clarksburg Detective Pfc. Dave Wygal was notified Feb. 14 of alleged sexual abuse of the girl.

The detective interviewed the youth Feb. 17, “at which time (she) disclosed multiple incidents of sexual abuse committed by the Defendant,” Concodora wrote.

After the interview that day, Wygal went to the police department where Jenkins “was being processed for an unrelated misdemeanor case,” Concodora wrote.

“Detective Wygal informed the Defendant of his rights using a Clarksburg Police Department Interview and Miranda Rights form and informed the Defendant of the sexual abuse allegations,” Concodora wrote.

“The Defendant denied the accusations and refused to give a further statement to Detective Wygal; however, the Defendant did agree to obtain an attorney and be reinterviewed at a later date,” Concodora wrote.

A day later, attorney Betsy Griffith then contacted Wygal on behalf of Jenkins and an interview was scheduled for 11 a.m. March 18, Concodora wrote.

“On March 18 ... the Defendant missed the appointment and Ms. Griffith contacted Detective Wygal to reschedule,” Concodora wrote. “Later that day, Detective Wygal obtained arrest warrants for the Defendant at his mother’s house where he was reportedly staying. When the Defendant could not be located at his mother’s house or through his wife ... Detective Wygal contacted the U.S. Marshals Service for assistance.”

Jenkins was located by marshals several weeks later in Fort Myers, Fla., and the defendant waived extradition from Florida on May 8, according to Concodora.

Jenkins was returned to West Virginia on May 26 and remains jailed on $550,000 bond.

If convicted of all or some of the charges, Jenkins could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Drug arrests

2009-11-06T10:36:00.000-05:00

WELCH — Several individuals in McDowell County have been arrested on drug-related charges as a result of an ongoing investigation, officials said Thursday.

Search warrants were executed late Wednesday at residences in Northfork and Worth by the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force and the Welch Detachment of the West Virginia State Police, sheriff’s department chief deputy Mark Shelton said.

Shelton said the first search warrant was executed Wednesday evening at 5 p.m. at a residence in Northfork. Upon entry into the residence, Shelton said authorities found an individual to be in possession of a large quantity of crack cocaine and marijuana and U.S. currency .

Shelton said Chadney Dererich Stanback, 23, of Northfork, and formerly of North Carolina, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana and crack cocaine. Standback was arraigned by Magistrate Steve Cox, who o set bond at $50,000.

Shelton said a second search warrant was issued at 9 p.m. Wednesday by the sheriff’s office and the task force in the Worth community, near Northfork Hollow.

Shelton said Stephen Hariston, 62, of Worth, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to deliver crack cocaine. A second man, Marcus Dixon, 32 of Worth, formerly of Detroit, Mich., was arrested at the residence on a parole violation charge out of Michigan, Shelton said.

Both men were arraigned Thursday before Magistrate Pete Beavers.

Shelton said a quantity of crack cocaine, and money, was recovered at the residence in Worth.

Shelton said both arrests were the result of an ongoing investigation by the sheriff’s office and the drug task force.

Man convicted of sexual assault

2009-11-06T10:24:00.001-05:00

CHARLESTON, W.VA. -- A Kanawha County jury has decided a Charleston man is guilty of sexual assault of a former girlfriend, but stopped short of finding him guilty of kidnapping in the incident last March.

Jurors heard from the victim, who told how Robert Lee Lewis, 40, came to her home despite a domestic protective order she had filed against him.

The woman was physically ill on the stand, prompting Judge Jennifer Bailey to call a recess and defense attorney John Sullivan to ask for a mistrial. The judge denied that request.

The jury, instructed not to let the victim's illness on the stand sway their opinion, deliberated the case over two days and returned their verdict just before 3 p.m. Thursday.

Lewis was convicted of abduction with intent to defile - a lesser charge than kidnapping - one count of burglary and one count of sexual assault. The jury found him not guilty of kidnapping and not guilty of a second count of sexual assault.

Bailey is scheduled to sentence Lewis Jan. 6.

Assistant prosecutors Ben Freeman and Erica Lord tried the case against Lewis for the state.

The victim testified that she had known Lewis about six months and had let him move into her Russell Street apartment. When their relationship went bad, she said, she asked him to leave and filed the protective order against him.

On March 26, he knocked at her door, saying he was someone else, she said.

"When I saw it was Mr. Lewis I shut it, but he slammed right through the door," the woman testified.

Right after the incident, the victim told police Lewis took her from her apartment to a vacant house on Grant Street, fought with her and raped her.

She said she escaped, ran back to her home and called police. She said she refused to have a rape examination at the hospital because she had been there for hours, was exhausted and just wanted to go home.

School bus driver convicted of sex abuse

2009-11-06T10:11:00.001-05:00

PINEVILLE, W.Va. - A former Wyoming County school bus driver has been convicted of sexually abusing a 16-year-old female student.

Robert Junior Thomas of Wyoming faces 10 to 20 years in prison. A sentencing date hasn't been set.

The 46-year-old Thomas was convicted Wednesday in Wyoming County Circuit Court of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian or custodian.

Prosecutors say the victim was a student in the summer school program, where Thomas worked as a bus driver.

Man charged with kidnapping and grand larceny

2009-11-05T18:19:00.002-05:00

CHARLESTON, W.Va.- A man from Charleston is facing several charges after police say he tried to steal a car with four children inside.

The alleged incident happened at the One Stop at 129 Lee Street West in Charleston.

Police say Jonathan Martin jumped into Stephanie Medford's car, which was parked at the One Stop. The vehicle was running with the keys in the ignition.

According to the criminal complaint, when Martin tried to put the car into drive, Medford's 9-year-old son grabbed the keys and pulled them out of the ignition. That's when police say Martin punched the boy in the face.

Martin tried to run, but he tripped and was later found lying in the parking lot across the street.

Martin was arrested and charged with grand larceny and four counts of kidnapping.

According to the criminal complaint, Martin told the arresting officer, "I was trying to take the car, I know I'm stupid."

"I'm guilty, I tried to steal the car," Martin told the officer. "I knew the kids were there, sorry."

Medford's three-year-old, 19-month-old and four-month-old were also in the car at the time of the incident.

Martin was arraigned on the charges Thursday morning.

Woman arrested for malicious wounding

2009-11-05T12:07:00.002-05:00

FAIRMONT-The Fairmont police arrest a woman for malicious wounding.
Janet Washington, 50, tried to stab a woman at the Dollar General store, according to the criminal complaint.

Police searched Washington and found two knives, assorted pills, and cocaine, it says.

Police say more charges could be pending.

Washington is in the North Central Regional Jail.

Teen charged with robbery

2009-11-05T12:04:00.002-05:00

FAIRMONT — One man has been arrested in connection with a robbery in Fairmont Tuesday.

Fairmont Police Department Patrolman Brian Speakman, investigating officer, said Atavio Lee, 19, of Fairmont, has been charged with robbery.

Lee is currently in the North Central Regional Jail.

Speakman said Lee reportedly entered a home on Locust Avenue Tuesday and used a blunt instrument to rob a man from Charleston who was visiting the area.

Lee reportedly took money, electronics and personal items from the man.

Speakman said Lee was arrested by city police late Tuesday night in the Locust Avenue area near where the robbery occurred.

More individuals could be charged in connection with the incident pending an investigation, Speakman said.

The arrest is part of an ongoing effort by the city police department to fight crime in the Fourth Street area. Police also have aggressively increased patrols in the past couple of weeks.

Sampson trial continued until Feb 2010

2009-11-05T11:57:00.002-05:00

PRINCETON – A trial for a Bluefield man facing a charge of first-degree murder has been postponed until February 2010.

Dennis Lamar Sampson Jr., 21, was arrested in May after the shooting death of Kerri Lynn Hager, 30, of Bluefield. Sampson appeared today before Judge William Sadler for a pre-trial hearing.

Sampson’s trial was continued until Feb. 2, 2010. He is being held without bond at the Southern Regional Jail near Beckley.