Circuit Court

According to Pocahontas County Circuit Clerk Connie Carr, the following cases were heard before the Honorable Judge Jennifer P. Dent:

A change of plea hearing was held in the case the State vs Robert Rakes, 35, of Roanoke, Virginia, wherein the defendant agreed to plead guilty to the misdemeanor charge of concealment of stolen property, and, in return, the state would dismiss two felony charges and one misdemeanor charge. The court accepted the plea and the defendant asked to be sentenced that day. Rakes was sentenced to one year in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on the charge of concealment of stolen property. Court costs were assessed with a fine of $2,500. In addition, the court ordered Rakes to pay restitution to Buckeye Country Mart in the amount of $1,265.64. Fines and restitution are to be paid within two years of his release from jail. Rakes was remanded to custody.

In a change of plea hearing in the case the State vs Adam Via, 18, of Dunmore, the defendant tendered a written plea to the court, wherein he would plead guilty to the felony charge of grand larceny in counts I, II and III of the indictment, and the state would agree to dismiss counts IV through VIII. The court accepted the plea of no contest and found Via guilty of 3 counts of grand larceny. The matter was referred to the probation department.

In a change of plea hearing in the case the State vs Earl Ray Adkins, Jr., 47, of Hillsboro, the defendant agreed to plead guilty to count II, driving under the influence of alcohol – second offense; and the state agreed to dismiss count I, failure to register as a sex offender. The court dismissed count I with prejudice, and adjudged Adkins guilty of count II.

In the case the State vs Kevin Phillips 44, of Marlinton, the defendant tendered a plea agreement to the court wherein he would plead guilty to one felony count of delivery of a Schedule III controlled narcotic substance and the state would agree to dismiss the second count of the same. The court accepted the plea.

Jorge Banton Pantojas, 25, of Bartow, asked the court for leniency so he can return to his family in Puerto Rica. The state agreed to remain silent at sentencing. Pantojas plead-ed guilty to the misdemeanor charge of bran- dishing. He was sentenced to the regional jail for seven months, with credit for 118 days served, and fined $500 plus court costs. He was remanded to custody.

Angel Irlanda Torres, 20, of Bartow, previously pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor offense of brandishing. He was sentenced to four months in the regional jail with 155 days credit for time served, fined $500 and assessed court costs.

A continuance was grant-ed in the case the State vs Victor Oscar Martinez, 31, of Bartow, due to discovery issues and plea negotiations.