The following hearings were held in the Pocahontas County Circuit Court:
The court granted continuance of a probation revocation hearing in the case the State vs Amanda Katherine Brewer-Long, 39, of Hillsboro.
The court found that Leo Woodhouse, 55, of Marlinton, had violated one or more of the terms of his Diversion Agreement, and he was placed on home confinement for 30 days.
Plea negotiations are in the works in the case the State vs Carrie L. Hickson, 42, of Cass.
A change of plea hearing was held in the case the State vs Cody Brouwer, 25, of Marlinton, wherein the defendant pleaded guilty to the lesser misdemeanor offense of possession of a non-narcotic substance. The court accepted the plea and granted the State’s motion to dismiss Count I of the indictment. Brouwer waived his right to a pre-sentencing investigation and asked to be sentenced that day. He was sentenced to six months in the regional jail with 98 days’ credit for time served and fined $400. He was remanded to custody.
Bradley C. McDaniels, 42, of Marlinton, admitted to one or more violations of his probation. The court sanctioned him to 90 days of home incarceration and he will remain under the terms and conditions of probation and Day Report. The court encouraged McDaniels to enter a drug rehab program.
Defense counsel asked for a psychological evaluation for Leanna Woodhouse, 44, of Marlinton, prior to an evidentiary hearing being held. Evidentiary hearing is set for September 24.
Jeffrey Stuart Richards, age unknown, an inmate in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail, waived his right to an extradition hearing and asked to return to the Commonwealth of Virginia to face charges of forgery and embezzlement. Virginia authorities agreed to pick up the defendant by August 24.
A change of plea hearing is set for September 25 in the case the State vs Johnathan C. Shearer, 31, of Marlinton, wherein the defendant has agreed to plead guilty in case No. 18-F-23 in exchange for the state dismissing case No. 19-F-24.
Miranda D. Bennett, 30, of Dunmore, was sentenced to the WVDOCR for not less than one year nor more than five years with credit for time served of 225 days. She was referred to a RSAT program – Residential Substance Abuse Treatment – in the prison system.
Eric Dakota Castle, 21, of Princeton, pleaded not guilty to all counts of the indictment. Castle will remain on current bond. Castle was indicted on three counts, possession with intent to deliver.
Gary McKenney, 70, of Marlinton, initially failed to appear and a capias was issued. Defense counsel asks that a psychological evaluation be made once McKenney is picked up. He appears in court and pleads not guilty to one count, license revoked for DUI, third offense; one count, entry of a building other than a dwelling. He remains on current bond, with the added condition that he cannot operate a motor vehicle.
Luca J. Byrd, 28, an inmate at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail, pleaded not guilty to one count, failure to register as a sex offender. Bond was set at $3,000 cash/surety/property.
Robbie L. Harlen, 40, of Norton pleaded not guilty to one count fleeing from a law enforcement officer with reckless indifference to the safety of others. He remains on present bond.
Shelia Smith, 45, of Staunton, Virginia, pleaded not guilty to one count, grand larceny. She remains on $3,000 PR bond and will be allowed to live in Virginia.
Dustin D. Morrison, 25, of Marlinton, pleaded not guilty to one count, malicious assault; three counts, possession with intent to deliver. The state filed a motion to revoke bond in bound over charges. A capias is outstanding and also a bail piece has been issued. The state relates that the defendant knew he was to report to home confinement and did not do so. He was remanded to custody on the capias.
Richard Tawney, 41, of Hillsboro, failed to appear for his arraignment. The state asks for a continuance as this defendant is a first time offender. The summons to appear will be re-issued.
No attorney was available to be appointed as defense counsel for Rodney Brewer, 47, of Buckeye. The arraignment was rescheduled.
Travis Rider, 33, of Marlinton, was given a suspended sentence and placed on supervised probation for one year.
During a status hearing in the case the State vs Christina D. Green, 33, of Marlinton, the state advised that a trial had been set for the co-defendant’s case and this matter will not be resolved until after that trial.
In his arraignment hearing, Bryan Thompson, 59, of Hillsboro, pleaded not guilty to all charges in his indictment. Defense counsel asked for personal recognizance bond, which the state opposed. The court set bond at $5,000 personal recognizance with the condition that Thompson reports for processing at the West Virginia State Police –Marlinton Detachment.
Samuel Lee Williams, 34, of Hillsboro, pleaded not guilty to all counts in his indictment. The court granted the state’s motion that bond be transferred from a bound over case to this one.
Joseph Tawney, 38, of Buckeye, appeared by Skype from the Tygart Valley Regional Jail. He pleaded not guilty to all counts in his indictment. The court set bond in the amount of $4,000 cash/surety/property. Tawney is to report to the Pocahontas County Sheriff’s Department immediately after his release from jail.
A capias was issued for Richard Keener, 38, of Hillsboro, who failed to appear.
Corey Lee Alexander, 31, of Marlinton, pleaded not guilty to all counts of his indictment. He remains on current bond.
Lynn Jordan, Jr., 32, of Cass, pleaded not guilty to all counts in his indictment. Bond was set at $4,000 cash/surety.
Jody Wright, 29, an inmate in the Huttonsville Correctional Center, pleaded not guilty to all counts in his indictment. No bond was set, as the defendant is incarcerated at this time.
Dustin Crisp, 26, an inmate at the Salem Correctional Center, pleaded not guilty to all counts of his indictment. No bond was set as the defendant is incarcerated at this time.
Logan James Smith, 24, of Rainelle, pleaded not guilty to unlawful taking of a vehicle. Bond was set at $1,000, 10 % cash, 90% personal recognizance, with normal conditions.
The court revoked bond in the case the State vs Dustin D. Morrison, 25, of Marlinton. It was noted that the defendant has not attended any rehab programs for his addiction.
Jeremy D. Moore, 34, of Marlinton, tendered an oral and written plea agreement to the court wherein he pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor Count of petit larceny. The state moved to dismiss Count I of the indictment, burglary, with prejudice. Sentencing and disposition is set for October 28. Moore remains on current bond.
A capias was issued for Richard Tawney, 41, of Hillsboro, who failed to appear for his arraignment hearing.
A capias was issued for Rodney Brewer, 47, of Buckeye, who failed to appear at his arraignment hearing.
A continuance of a change of plea hearing was granted in the case the State vs Matthew D. Walton, 42, of Hillsboro, to allow time for modification of the plea agreement.
Morgan B. Mason, 22, of Hillsboro, was placed on probation for one year, and is to make monthly payments on the court costs.
A capias was issued for Clinton E. Buzzard, 36, of Marlinton, who failed to appear for his arraignment hearing. Bond was set at $2,000, cash or surety.
The court sanctioned Bradley C. McDaniels, 42, of Marlinton, to 90 days in Tygart Valley Regional Jail so he can enter a rehab program and complete it.
In a revocation of probation hearing, Leanna Woodhouse, 45, of Marlinton, was referred to the Southeastern Regional Drug Court Program as an agreed disposition. The court will extend the probation of the defendant, allowing her to successfully complete the program.
Johnathan C. Shearer, 31, of Marlinton, pleaded guilty to One Count, delivery of a Schedule II controlled non-narcotic substance. The court denied bond and set sentencing for November 4.
Rodney Brewer, 47, of Buckeye, appeared by video from the Tygart Valley Jail and pleaded not guilty to charges against him. The court granted the state’s motion to revoke bond, and bond was reset at $35,000 cash or surety with supervised home confinement condition.