According to Pocahontas County Circuit Clerk Connie Carr, the following hearings were held January 9 before the Honorable Judge Robert E. Richardson:
Defense counsel for Nelson Cortes, 43, an inmate in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail, advised the court that his client is ready to change his plea. Due to the court’s lengthy schedule, the matter is set for a change of plea hearing on January 23. The court asks that the plea documents be translated to Spanish so Cortes is comfortable reading and signing them.
A continuance was granted for the change of plea hearing in the case the State vs Stephen L. Bennett, 34, of Marlinton, as defense counsel stated she had just been given the plea documents and had not had time to review them. A hearing is set for January 23.
Trial is set for March 18 in the case the State vs Gregory Keatley, 36, of Marlinton.
Defense counsel for Robert Allen Eary, 21 of Cass, advised the court that a new “Kennedy versus Frazier” plea agreement had been drawn up and tendered to the court, wherein Eary will plead guilty to two counts, misdemeanor offenses of petit larceny, and the State agrees to dismiss, with prejudice, eight felony counts in the indictment. Sentencing and disposition is set for March 13. Eary remains on present bond with the condition that he cooperate with the probation department.
A written plea agreement was tendered to the court in the case the State vs Paul A. Shaver, 25, of Morgantown, wherein the defendant will plead guilty to two felonies: uttering and fraudulent schemes. The state dismissed, with prejudice, the remaining two counts of the indictment. Sentencing is set for February 20. Shaver was remanded to custody.
Defense counsel for Robbie C. Sipe, 26, of Bartow, advised the court that her client had been accepted into the Southeastern Drug Court program and asked that a change of plea hearing be set. That hearing is scheduled for January 16.
A written plea agreement was not accepted by the court in the case the State vs Marissa E. Mann Bennett, 23, of Renick, as the defendant was unsure of what she was pleading to and what sentence she might receive. The matter is rescheduled to January 16.
The following hearings were held January 10 before the Honorable Judge Jennifer P. Dent:
Robert E. Kilmer, Jr. 51, of Caldwell, was picked up on a capias. The court denied bond. Kilmer waived his right to a speedy trial and the matter is continued to the next term of court. Trial is set for April 25.
Zachary Morrison, 29, of Buckeye, tendered a written plea agreement to the court wherein he pleaded guilty to the felony charge of delivery of a Schedule II controlled non-narcotic substance, and the misdemeanor charge of domestic assault. The state dismissed, with prejudice, three magistrate court cases against Morrison. Sentencing and disposition is set for March 6. The defendant was remanded to custody.