The following hearings were recently held in Pocahontas County Circuit Court before the Honorable Judges Robert E. Richardson and Patrick I. Via:
A pre-trial hearing was held in the case the State vs Philip Curtis Leone, 40, of Elkins, wherein the State related that the matter is ready for a change of plea hearing. That hearing was set for February 5. Leone was indicted on one count, burglary; and one count, grand larceny.
Plea negotiations are on-going in the case the State vs Justin Adam Cutlip, 44, of Marlinton. Cutlip was indicted on four counts, sexual abuse in the first degree; and four counts, sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, custodian or person in position of trust of a child.
A hearing on motion for reconsideration was held in the case the State vs Christina Giese, 42, of Arbovale, wherein the defendant asked to be reconsidered for release to probation. The court suspended the pending balance of her sentence and Giese was placed on supervised probation with GPS monitoring for three years. She was required to do an assessment through Pocahontas County Day Report Center and is to have no contact with the victim or trespass on property. Court costs are to be paid within 18 months of release.
Roy Lynn Walker, 58, of Hillsboro, appeared by video from the Tygart Valley Regional Jail for a hearing on motion to modify bond. Defense counsel asked that the
