2 caught for B&E

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

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6 Arraigned in Barbour County

Barbour County Circuit Judge Alan D. Moats arraigned the six individuals Wednesday who were indicted by a Barbour County Grand Jury earlier in the week.

Justin E. Mayle, 22, of 601 Maple Ave., Philippi, appeared with Howard Ferris and pleaded innocent to one count of second-degree sexual assault, a felony. Moats continued Mayle's current bond under the condition he participate in the community correction program.

According to the indictment, Mayle is accused of unlawfully engaging in sexual intercourse with a male victim while the victim was physically helpless on Dec. 21, 2008.

Bryant M. Cummings, 20, of Route 53, Box 223, Coalton, and Shawn M. Lindsay, 21, of Beverly, appeared together and both pleaded innocent to one count each of breaking and entering and conspiracy.

Attorney Leckta Poling represented Cummings and attorney Lisa Weese Ferguson represented Lindsay. Moats ordered both men could remain on bond under the condition they participate in the community corrections program.

According to the indictments, the men are accused of breaking into a building owned by Max Chevalier on Jan. 28.

Garrett J. Summerfield, 18, of Route 1, Box 218-2, Philippi, appeared with Ferguson and pleaded innocent to one count of breaking and entering, a felony. Moats continued Summerfield's bond under the condition he participate in the community corrections program.

According to the indictment, Summerfield is accused of breaking into a building owned by McVickers Salvage on May 4.

Richard W. Koehlerschmidt, of Route 3, Box 192-A, Philippi, appeared with Ferris and pleaded innocent to two counts of failure to register change of sex offender information, a felony. Moats did not set bond because Koehlerschmidt is currently incarcerated at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on separate charges.

According to the indictment, Koehlerschmidt failed to provide a change in information according to the Sex Offender Registration Act on May 22 and Aug. 30.

Dianna L. Zajic, of 403 Maple Ave., Philippi, appeared with attorney Karen Hill Johnson and pleaded innocent to one count of embezzlement, a felony. Moats set bond at $5,000 and ordered Zajic have no contact with the victim.

According to the indictment, Zajic is accused of stealing money from a joint account with Norma L. McCoy that was supposed to be used solely for the purpose of paying McCoy's bills.

Barbour County Prosecuting Attorney E. Lynn Phillips presented the state's cases

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Logan man nets 1 to 10 in railroad theft plea

A Logan County man named in a six-count grand jury indictment concerning offenses against Norfolk Southern Railway Co., received two prison sentences Thursday of one to 10 years each.

Jerry Jerome McNeely, 21, of Omar, appeared before Chief Judge Michael Thornsbury as he pled guilty to two charges — breaking and entering a storage building owned by Norfolk Southern and grand larceny.

The sentences will be served concurrently (at the same time). McNeely was assessed the usual court fees and was directed to make restitution to Norfolk Southern Railway. He will receive credit for time served in jail while awaiting trial.

McNeely waived pre-sentencing investigation and probation after pleading guilty and was then sentenced to a state correctional facility. He was represented by Attorney Kathy Cisco Sturgell. Assistant Mingo County Prosecutor Teresa D. Maynard appeared for the state.

In return for his pleas, four other charges will be dismissed by the state. One includes conspiracy with others in breaking and entering a storage building owned by Norfolk Southern on June 19, 2008.

McNeely’s other charges were conspiring to steal and carry away property owned by Norfolk Southern Railway and valued at $1,000 or more; feloniously injuring and defacing guard rails owned by Norfolk Southern and valued at approximately $3,447.26, and holding and using an altered registration plate in violation of West Virginia Code. Besides the guard rails, stolen railway equipment also included rail lubricator equipment valued at approximately $14,970.91

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