Circuit Court

According to Pocahontas County Circuit Clerk Connie Carr, the following cases were heard January 25 before the Honorable Judge Jennifer P. Dent:

A pretrial conference was continued to February 15 in the case the State vs James M. Lester, 34, of Nettie, as the defendant was not present and may have not been advised of the hearing date. Lester was indicted on one count, entry of building other than a dwelling, and one count petit larceny.

A pretrial conference is set for March 30 in the case the State vs Annette Irvine, 46, of Hillsboro. Irvine was indicted on one count, delivery of a Schedule III controlled narcotic substance.

Pretrial conference is set for March 9 in the case the State vs Harry McLaughlin, 61, of Dunmore. McLaughlin was indicted on one count, wanton endangerment involving a firearm and one count brandishing.

Pretrial status/motions hearing is set for February 15 in the case the State vs Christina M. Giese, 34, of Arbovale. Giese is charged with forgery and obtaining property by false pretenses.

A hearing for pretrial motions and change of plea is set for February 15 in the case the State vs Robert Rakes, 35, of Roanoke, Virginia. Rakes is charged with one count entry of a building other than a dwelling, one count, destruction of property, and one count, grand larceny.

Defense counsel tendered two motions to the court in the case the State vs Alfred Lee Pritt, 55, of Marlinton. The state asked that the motions be set for hearing at a later time. Pretrial conference/hearing on motions is set for February 1. Pritt is charged with wanton endangerment involving a firearm.

Defense motions for a new trial and post conviction bond were denied by the court in the case the State vs Tracy Back, 55, of Buckeye. Defense advised the court that his client will appeal his conviction. A jury found Back guilty of threatening to commit a terrorist act.

Angel Irlanda Torres, 20, of Bartow, tendered a written plea to the court wherein he pleaded guilty to the lesser included misdemeanor offense of brandishing contained in Count III of the indictment. The State asked that Counts I and II be dismissed. Sentencing and disposition is set for April 5. Torres remains on bond.

Victor Oscar Martinez, 30, of Bartow, waived his right to a speedy trial and was granted a continuance of his trial until the next term of court. Martinez remains on bond with the condition that he is to have no contact with George Pantojas and Angel Torres. Martinez is charged with burglary, wanton endangerment, conspiracy to commit a felony and brandishing.

The court accepted the guilty plea of Jesse Allen Mancuso, 27, of Morgantown, but deferred adjudication. Mancuso was placed on modified probation for 10 months according to the diversion agreement. He was indicted by the April 2016 Grand Jury on one count, attempted possession of a controlled substance in a state correctional facility.

A change of plea hearing was held in the case the State vs Tonya Hedrick, 34, of Durbin, wherein defense counsel asked that Hedrick be given home confinement in Raleigh County where she could enter a faith-based recovery program. The court reinstated a $23,000 personal recognizance bond with the condition that Hedrick be hooked up on Raleigh County Home Incarceration program and that she live at the Life Changers Program. She was transferred to the Southern Regional Jail. A status/change of plea hearing is set for February 1.

In a disposition hearing in the case the State vs James R. Martin, 43, of Hillsboro, the court granted the state’s motion that Martin be returned to his original sentence due to the fact the he committed another offense while on alternative sentencing. He was remanded to custody. Martin was indicted on three counts, forgery, and three counts, uttering.