The following hearings were recently held in Pocahontas County Circuit Court before the Honorable Judges Robert E. Richardson and Jennifer P. Dent:
Tyler Bowman, 22, of Lewisburg, waived his right to a speedy trial. The court granted a defense motion for a continuance due to COVID spread. The matter is moved to the next term of court. Bowman was indicted by the April 2019 Grand Jury on two counts, sexual abuse in the first degree, a felony; one count, sexual assault in the second degree, a felony; one count, sexual assault in the third degree, a felony.
Darin Ramsey, 33, of Hillsboro, was sentenced to one year in the West Virginia Department of Corrections, but will be allowed to discharge his sentence on home incarceration with special conditions of employment and services already in place. Home confinement fee will be set at the lowest amount in order that any wages can go to restitution for child support arrearages. Ramsey was indicted by the August 2020 Grand Jury on one count, failure to meet an obligation to provide support to a minor, a felony.
A sentencing hearing was held in the case the State vs Rodney Brewer, 48, of Buckeye, wherein the defendant appeared by video from the Tygart Valley Jail. Defense counsel asked for alternative sentencing in this matter. The state objected in that the defendant’s bond was revoked for charges in another county. The state does not believe Brewer is a good candidate for alternative sentencing because of the drug charges. The court accepted the findings of the investigation report. With regard to Counts I and III, person prohibited from possess- ing a firearm, Brewer was sentenced to five years for each; for Counts II and V, driving while license revoked for DUI, he was sentenced to the WVDOCR for six months and fined $500 for each count; for Count VI, possession with intent to deliver a Schedule II non-narcotic substance, he was sentenced to the state penitentiary for not less than one year nor more than 10 years; for Count VII, possession with intent to deliver a Schedule III narcotic substance, he was sentenced to the state penitentiary for not less than one year nor more than five years; on Count VIII, possession with intent to deliver a Schedule IV non-narcotic substance, Brewer was sentenced to the state penitentiary for not less than one year nor more than three years. Determinate sentences in Counts I and III will run concurrent, but consecutive to all other sentences. All other sentences shall run consecutively with Brewer’s sentence in Putnam County. He will receive credit for jail time served in the amount of 368 days. Brewer is referred to the RSATA program within the WVDOCR.
A change of plea hearing is set for February 9 in the case the State vs Trent Evans Gutshall, 25, of Monterey, Virginia. Gutshall was indicted on one count, fleeing from a law enforcement officer with reckless indifference to the safety of other persons.