The following hearings were recently held in Pocahontas County Circuit Court before the Honorable Judges Robert E. Richardson and Jennifer P. Dent:
An evidentiary hearing was held in the case the State vs Kevin A. Withers, 38, of Marlinton, wherein the defendant appeared by video from the Tygart Valley Regional Jail. Because of medical issues and staffing issues at the jail, the court moved the hearing to September 12. A defense motion for Double Jeopardy was recently filed to which the State objects and is not prepared to go forward on.
In-person motion hearing was held in the case the State vs Roger Warren Teter, Jr., 48, of Dunmore, wherein the Court denied a defense motion to file additional motions as the deadline has passed. The Court granted the State’s motion for fingerprints to be taken again as there is some issue as to the defendant being the same person who was arrested.
Phillip Dean, Jr., 49, of Marlinton, appeared by video from the TVRJ and admitted to violating the terms of his bond agreement with the State. He was sanctioned for 50 days and is to attend a rehab program prior to his release. The court found that the defendant had violated the terms and conditions of his alternative sentencing. Dean was sanctioned to 90 days in the regional jail. Within the 90-day sanction period, when a bed becomes available, the WVDOCR/TVRJ will transport Dean to an in-patient substance abuse treatment program. The court warned the defendant that this was the second sanction during his alternative sentencing and related that he could spend 16 years in the state penitentiary if another violation occurs.
An in-person disposition hearing was held in the case the State vs Carl Lee Kidd, 40, of Arbovale, wherein the court granted a defense motion for home confinement. The defendant was given credit for time served on home incarceration, 60 days and for jail time, 124 days. Kidd was to report to the home incarceration program to be hooked up immediately.
In arraignment hearings:
Logan R. Fedak 18, of Bartow, pleaded not guilty to One Count, Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a felony; One Count, Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a felony. He remains on present bond, which is blanketed to contain all counts of the indictment. The defendant is to report to the Pocahontas County Sheriff’s Department to be processed on Count I.
Clayton Ray Wykle, 48, of Danese, pleaded not guilty to One Count, Obtaining Property in Return for Worthless Check, a felony; One Count, Fraudulent Schemes, a felony. He remains on original bond, which will blanket the new count. Wykle is to report to the PCSD for processing as to Count I.
Defense counsel for Jeremia Paul Hedrick, 32, of Circleville, failed to appear for his arraignment. The matter was continued to August 31. Hedrick remains of current bond.
Ross George Benedict, 36, of Marlinton, pleaded not guilty to One Count, Burglary, a felony; One Count, Destruction of Property, a misdemeanor. He remains on present bond with the condition of no contact with the alleged victims. Benedict filed a motion for a speedy trial during this term of court.
Luke M. Gum, 34 of Dunmore, pleaded not guilty to all counts of his indictment. He remains on present bond with the condition of home incarceration and no contact with alleged victims. Bond will be blanketed to cover all counts of the indictment. Gum is to report to the West Virginia State Police for processing on three counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and four counts of Sexual Assault in the First Degree.
Eli P. Pritt, 22, of Marlinton, pleaded not guilty to One Count, Entry of a Building Other Than a Dwelling, a felony; One Count, Grand Larceny, a felony. A pre-trial status conference is set for October 12. Pritt remains on bond posted in Magistrate Court, which was transferred to Circuit Court. Due to direct indictment, the defendant is to report to the WVSP for processing on the charges.
Derek Stephen Hannah, 35, of Marlinton, appeared by video from the Southwestern Regional Jail and pleaded not guilty to One Count, Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine a Schedule II Con- trolled Non-Narcotic Substance, a felony; Two Counts, Possession with Intent to Deliver a Schedule V Controlled Non-Narcotic Substance, a misdemeanor; Two Counts, Person Prohibited from Possessing a Firearm, a misdemeanor. Bond was set at $20,000 cash, property or surety. Hannah is to be processed at SRJ on two counts of Person Prohibited from Possession of a Firearm.
Kristina Dawn Bennett, 42, of Circleville, pleaded not guilty to One Count, Driving Under the Influence Third Offense, a felony. She remains on current bond.
Casey Elizabeth Crabtree, 26, of Hillsboro, pleaded not guilty to Eight Counts, Forgery, a felony; Six Counts, Uttering, a felony. She remains on present bond with the condition of no contact of any kind with the victim. Day Report was removed as a condition of the bond. Crabtree is to report to the PCSD to be processed on six counts of uttering.
A capias was issued for Kyle Michael Miller, 26, of Dunmore, who failed to appear for his arraignment.
Arraignment of Michael Thomas Caldwell, 44, of Slaty Fork, was continued as defense counsel had spoken with the defendant but did not know his whereabouts the day of the hearing.
Sheena E. Crites, 37, of Circleville, pleaded not guilty to Two Counts, Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine a Schedule II Controlled, Non-Narcotic Substance, a felony; One Count, Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana a Schedule I Controlled, Non-Narcotic Substance, a felony. She remains on present bond, with the modified term of random drug screens removed.
William Steven Feury, 29, of Marlinton, pleaded not guilty to One Count, Entry of a Building Other Than a Dwelling, a felony; One Count, Attempted Grand Larceny, a felony. He remains on present bond with the condition of no contact of any kind with alleged victims. He is to be processed on Count I by either the WVSP or TVRJ.
Jerry Schoolcraft, 60, of Buckeye, appeared by video from the Southern Regional Jail and pleaded not guilty to Four Counts Sexual Assault in the Second Degree, a felony. The court set bond at $500,000 with the special condition of no contact of any kind with state witnesses of alleged victims.