The following hearings were recently held in Pocahontas County Circuit Court before the Honorable Judges Robert E. Richardson and Jennifer P. Dent:
A change of plea hearing was held in the case the State vs Tanner Moore, 27, of Marlinton, wherein the defendant pleaded guilty to the lesser included felony offense of voluntary man-slaughter and the felony offense of use of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The plea will be a binding plea as to maximum sentencing on each charge. The court accepted the plea, and Moore waived his right to a presentence investigation report. Sentencing and disposition is set for July 24. Moore was remanded to custody.
An in-person pre-trial conference was held in the case the State vs Jerry Schoolcreaft, 62, of Renick, wherein the State asked for dismissal of the case due to new evidence being provided by a witness and no time to consider the evidence. The court dismissed the case without prejudice. Bond was released.
In the case the State vs Ayden Carroll, 20, of Cass, the parties reported that they anticipate a resolution by plea in this matter. The defendant waived his right to a speedy trial. A status hearing is set for September 3. Carroll was indicted on four counts, sexual assault in the third degree; and two counts, sexual abuse, third degree.
A jury trial is set for November 12 in the case the State vs Franklin Cook, 66, of Caldwell. Cook was indicted on three counts, sexual abuse in the first degree; two counts, sexual abuse by a custodian of a child; and three counts, sexual assault in the first degree.
A remote hearing on motion to strike State’s motion to accept plea was held in the case the State vs Kyle Miller, 28, of Dunmore, wherein both parties asked for an extension of the diversion agreement to March 2026 if Monongalia County will accept the defendant on conditions of the diversion program. Miller was indicted by the August 2022 Grand Jury on one count, entry of a building other than a dwelling and one count, attempted petit larceny.
Defense counsel for Jeremy D. Moore, 38, of Marlinton, asked for a continuance since he is new to the case. Moore was indicted on one count, entry of a building other than a dwelling; one count, conspiracy to commit a felony; one count, petit larceny.
Defense counsel for Kristi Dawn Moore, 34, of Marlinton, asked for a continuance since he is new to the case. Moore was indicted on one count, entry of a building other than a dwelling; one count, conspiracy to commit a felony; one count, petit larceny.
Jury trial in the case the State vs Andrew Baybutt, 50, of Mechanicsville, Virginia, originally scheduled for July 23, has been removed from the docket and reset for November 19. Baybutt waived his right to a speedy trial. He was indicted by the December 2022 Grand Jury on two counts, sexual abuse by a parent of a child, and two counts, sexual abuse in the first degree.
William Daniel McGuire, 57, an inmate at Denmar Correctional Center, waived his right to an extradition hearing and will voluntarily return to Giles County, Virginia, for pending charges there. Authorities from Giles County are to pick him up by July 17.
