A two-day jury trial was held last week in the case the State vs Christopher Waybright 39, of Arbovale. The jury returned a verdict of guilty of the felony offense of grand larceny. Sentence and disposition is set for December 14. Waybright was remanded to custody
The following hearings were recently held in Pocahontas County Circuit Court before the Honorable Judges Robert E. Richardson and Jennifer P. Dent:
In the case the State vs Stephanie Michelle Sharp, 38, of Hillsboro, defense counsel advised that they were in conversation with the state about a plea deal which would include the defendant entering an Adult Court Drug Program. Sharp was indicted on one count, grand larceny, a felony; one count, conspiracy, a felony; one count, child neglect creating risk of serious bodily injury, a felony
A change of plea hearing was held in the case the State vs John Stull, 33, of Bartow, wherein the defendant tendered a plea agreement to the court in which he pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor offense of person prohibited from possessing a firearm. The Court did not accept the plea agreement as it contained conditions for sanction. The court asked for a new agreement form to be provided removing the sanction portion. Stull signed the new agreement, and the court deferred acceptance of the plea until Stull has completed a substance abuse evaluation. The matter is set for acceptance of plea December 14.
A status hearing was held in the case the State vs Andrew Baybutt, 49, of Mechanicsville, Virginia, wherein defense counsel advised the court that more time is needed to acquire sensitive records and the help of the court may be needed to obtain them. The State asks for the trial to be set in the April 2024 term. Baybutt waived his right to a speedy trial in this term as well as the December term of court. Baybutt was indicted on two counts, sexual abuse by a parent of a child, a felony; two counts, sexual abuse in the first degree, a felony.
Joshua VanReenen, 36, of Hillsboro appeared by video from the Tygart Valley Jail after being picked up on a capias. Defense counsel asked for reinstatement of bond as the defendant is working in Virginia. The court denied the motion as the defendant was not approved to be out of state. VanReenen was indicted on one count, malicious assault, a felony; one count, wanton endangerment involving a firearm, a felony; one count, use or presentation of a firearm during the commission of a felony, a felony.
Landon Matthew Gibson, 20, of Hillsboro, appeared by video from Tygart Valley Regional Jail, having been picked up on a capias. Defense counsel asked for a continuance as they had not spoken with the defendant. Gibson was indicted on one count, petit larceny, a misdemeanor; one count, grand larceny, a felony; one count, burglary, a felony.
The court found that Eli Pritt, 23, of Marlinton, had violated the terms and conditions of the Southeastern Drug Court Program and had been terminated from the program. Pritt was adjudged guilty of the felony offense of grand larceny and the felony offense of burglary. Sentencing and disposition is set for December 6. The defendant was remanded to the regional jail.
A pre-trial conference was held in the case the state vs Roger W. Teter, Jr., 50, of Dunmore, wherein newly appointed defense counsel asked for a continuance to the next term of court. The defendant waived his right to a speedy trial in this term. Teter was indicted on one count, petit larceny.
A change of plea hearing is set for November 30 in the case the State vs David Mace, 37, of Marlinton. A three-day trial had originally been scheduled for November 7. Mace was indicted on three counts, strangulation; and two counts, wanton endangerment involving a firearm.
A hearing to revoke deferred adjudication was held in the case the State vs Adam Harwell, 36, of Buckeye, wherein the court sentenced the defendant, for the offense of wanton endangerment involving a firearm, to a definite period of two years in the state penitentiary, fined him $1,000 and taxed court costs against him. Harwell was given 63 days’ credit for time service. He was remanded to custody.
Citing a conflict in that the assistant prosecuting attorney was a former law clerk for one of the circuit judges, defense counsel for Tanner Lee Moore, 26, of Marlinton, asked that the matter be transferred to the other division of the court. A status/evidentiary hearing is set for November 29. Jury Trial is scheduled for March 25, 2024. Moore was indicted on one count, first degree murder; one count, use or presentation of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Steven K. Bennett, 48, of Green Bank, tendered a written plea agreement to the court wherein he pleaded guilty to the lesser included misdemeanor offense of driving while license revoked for driving under the influence of alcohol, second offense. He was sentenced to one year monitored home confinement and fined the minimum fine of $1,000.
