Men plead innocent
By BEN SIMMONS, Staff WriterTwo of the men indicted in connection with robbing Mountain Valley Bank in Mill Creek in December pleaded innocent to the charges on Wednesday. Randolph County Circuit Judge Jaymie Godwin Wilfong conducted arraignments for the men and 16 others who were indicted on various charges by a grand jury in June.
Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Richard Busch, along with assistant prosecutors Christopher Cooper and Shannon Johnson, presented the state's cases.
Carl A. Hughes, 23, and Joshua A. Pennington, 22, both currently incarcerated at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail, were named in a nine-count indictment that accuses the duo of conspiring to rob Mountain Valley Bank in Mill Creek on Dec. 30, 2008, and Hughes of committing the robbery. Both men appeared before Wilfong separately and pleaded innocent to the crime.
Attorney Russell Stobbs is representing Hughes and attorney Tim Prentice is representing Pennington. Wilfong set jury selection for both cases for Sept. 8. Hughes' trial is scheduled for Sept. 14 and 15 and Pennington's trial is set for Sept. 9 and 10.
Hughes was charged with seven felonies including conspiracy, first-degree robbery, bank robbery with a dangerous weapon, wanton endangerment involving a firearm, grand larceny, transfer of stolen goods and attempting to escape custody. Pennington was charged with one count each of conspiracy and receiving stolen goods.
According to the indictment, Hughes is accused of pointing a .38 caliber revolver at the face of a bank teller and commanding her to give him the money in the drawer during the robbery. He is accused of taking $21,060.
Pennington is charged with receiving more than $1,000, "in which he knew to be stolen in a bank robbery," the indictment states.
Hughes is also accused of trying to escape from Randolph County Jail Correctional Officer Kenneth A. Howell while being held after a hearing in the Randolph County Circuit Court on Jan. 9.
Cassandra S. Winter, 23, of 11951 Manor Trailer Park, Belleveron, Pa., Crystal D. Myers, 24, of 1109 Dorsey Lane, Morgantown, and Steven Myers, 22, of Huttonsville Correctional Center, all appeared separately and pleaded innocent to their roles in a five-count indictment accusing them of bringing drugs into Huttonsville Correctional Center.
Attorney James Hawkins Jr. is representing Winters, who is accused of three felonies including conspiracy, transportation of a dangerous substances onto the grounds of a correctional center and delivery of a controlled substance.
Attorney William Nestor is representing Steven Myers and Prentice is representing Crystal Myers. They are both accused of one felony count of conspiracy.
According to the indictment, Winters and Crystal Myers attempted to deliver marijuana to Steven Myers on May 17, 2008, at Huttonsville Correctional Center.
Wilfong scheduled jury selection for all three cases on Sept. 8 and scheduled individual trials on Sept. 16, 17 and 18.
Shelly S. Howard, no age given, currently incarcerated at the TVRJ, along with Eric W. Lewis, 32, and Jason D. Bailey, 32, both incarcerated at Huttonsville Correctional Center, appeared separately and pleaded innocent to a four-count indictment charging them with bringing drugs into the Huttonsville Correctional Center.
Attorney Lori Gray is representing Howard, who is charged with one felony count each of conspiracy and transportation of a dangerous substance onto the grounds of a correctional facility. Wilfong set jury selection for Sept. 8 and scheduled a trial for Sept. 23. Howard remains free on a $30,000 bond.
Nestor is representing Lewis and Prentice is representing Bailey. Both men are charged with one felony count of conspiracy. According to the indictment, Howard attempted to deliver marijuana to Lewis and Bailey at the Huttonsville Correctional Center on June 8, 2008. Wilfong scheduled jury selection for Sept. 8. The trial for Lewis will begin on Sept.11 and the trial for Bailey will begin on Sept. 18.
Theresa A. White, 45, currently incarcerated at TVRJ, appeared with attorney Steve Hunter and pleaded innocent to two counts each of delivery of a controlled substance and possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, along with one count of conspiracy, all felonies. Wilfong set jury selection for Sept. 8 and scheduled the trial for Sept. 9 and 10. White remains incarcerated on a $150,000 cash only bond.
According to the indictment, White is accused of delivering morphine on Nov. 5, 2008, and Jan. 11.
Roger L. Denna, 53, of 13 Cherry St., Richwood, appeared with attorney Richard Shryock and pleaded innocent to four felonies including possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, second offense possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school. Wilfong set jury selection for Sept. 8 and scheduled a trial for Sept. 22. Denna remains free on a $10,000 surety bond.
According to the indictment, Denna is accused of delivering marijuana on Jan. 7, near Davis & Elkins College.
Stacy J. White Evick, 33, of Box 95, Belington, appeared with Shryock and pleaded innocent to two counts of forgery and two counts of uttering, all felonies. According to the indictment, Evick is accused of writing two checks on the account of Dale White on July 17, 2008, in the amounts of $107.53 and $96.05. White remains free on a $10,000 bond.
Joshua K. Winn, 22, of 311 Wilson Lane, Apartment 1, Elkins, appeared with Hawkins and pleaded innocent to one count each of burglary, computer fraud and fraud and trafficking in an access device, all felonies. Wilfong set jury selection for Nov. 17 and scheduled the trial for Nov. 19.
During the hearing, one count of possession of a counterfeit and unauthorized access device, a misdemeanor, was dismissed because it exceeded the statute of limitations for a misdemeanor crime.
According to the indictment, Winn is accused of breaking into the home of Freddie Tingler on Oct. 4, 2008, and taking various items having a value of $2,380. He is also accused of using the debit card of Ashton G. Taylor without her permission to access her account at Davis Trust Co. to obtain funds in the amount of $320.
Bryant J. Howell, 20, of 301 Central St., appeared with Prentice and pleaded innocent to one count of third-degree sexual assault, a felony. According to the indictment, Howell engaged in sexual intercourse with a juvenile born in 1994. Wilfong scheduled jury selection for Sept. 8 and set the trial for Sept. 11.
Jacob A. Burgin, 24, of Route 2, Box 2, Beverly, appeared with Hawkins and pleaded innocent to four counts of third-degree sexual assault, all felonies. According to the indictment, Burgin engaged in sexual intercourse with a juvenile born in 1993 on four occasions. Wilfong scheduled jury selection for Sept. 8 and set the trial for Sept. 14 and 15. He remain free on a $10,000 bond.
Johnny Mack Brown, 58, of Huttonsville Correction Center, appeared with attorney Michael Parker and pleaded innocent to one count of third offense battery of an officer, a felony. According to the indictment, Brown intentionally caused harm to Sgt. Jeffrey Booth on June 23, 2008. Wilfong set jury selection for Sept. 8 and scheduled the trial for Sept. 16.
Matthew Bennett, 48, of 1 Rural Route, 122A1, Beverly, appeared with Shryock and pleaded innocent to two counts of failure to meet an obligation to provide support for a minor, both felonies. According to the indictment, Bennett allegedly owes more than $53,000 for child support. Wilfong set jury selection for Sept. 8 and scheduled the trial for Sept. 22. Bennett remains free on a $15,000 bond.
