Circuit Court

According to Pocahontas County Clerk Connie Carr, the following hearings were held March 23 before the Honorable Judge Robert E. Richardson:

Catherine L. McDaniels, 39, of Slaty Fork, tendered a written plea agreement to the court, wherein she agreed to plead guilty to possession with intent to deliver a controlled non-narcotic substance, methamphetamine; guilty to forgery; and guilty to fraudulent schemes. The state agreed to dismiss all other counts of the indictment with prejudice if the defendant successfully completes the Southeastern Drug Court Program. The court accepted the plea and will withhold judgment until such time as McDaniels completes the program. If she fails to be successful, she will return to the court and will be sentenced on the three charges as contained in the plea agreement. McDaniels was released from the West Virginia Regional Jail.

George Bradley Sewell, 36, of Hillsboro, tendered a written plea agreement to the court in February, but had some reservations at the time. He returned to court March 23 and agreed to plead guilty to grand larceny. The court accepted the plea and placed Sewell on deferred adjudication for a period of two years supervised by probation. The State asked that a second count against Sewell be dismissed with prejudice. The issue of restitution will be determined at a later hearing. Restitution shall be paid within the two year period.

The following hearings were held March 28 before the Honorable Judge Jennifer P. Dent:

James M. Lester, 35, of Nettie, admitted to failing a drug screen while on probation. Lester will attend a 28-day drug program, and will then be reinstated to probation with all the prior conditions.

A change of plea hearing was held in the case the State vs Shanda May Stull, 25, of Bartow, wherein the defendant pleaded guilty to the lesser included misdemeanor offense of possession of greater than 15 grams of marijuana. The state agreed to dismiss the felony count of the indictment and the defendant was placed on deferred adjudication for one year with Day Report, and probation performing inspections of the home and conducting drug screens during that time. If Stull is unsuccessful in the diversion program, she will return to court for disposition.

A pre-trial conference is set for April 26 in the case the state vs Kenneth R. Peck, Jr. 41, of Arbovale. The defendant was remanded to custody.

Jennifer Fay Lambert, 30, of Mill Creek, tendered a written plea agreement to the court, wherein she agreed to plead guilty to the lesser included misdemeanor offense of possession of a controlled substance. The state agreed to dismiss two other counts in the indictment. The court accepted Lambert’s plea, and the matter is set for sentencing and disposition June 13.

Plea negotiations are ongoing in the case the State vs Jeffery Thomas Rose, 21, of Hillsboro. Rose was indicted by the December 2017 Grand Jury on one count, entry of a building other than a dwelling, a felony, and one count petit larceny, a misdemeanor. Rose remains on current bond.

Plea negotiations are ongoing in the case the State vs Drema Renee Tinney, 50, of Marlinton. The matter is set for a change of plea hearing April 13. Tinney was indicted by the December 2017 Grand Jury on one count of forgery, a felony. She remains on current bond.