A number of sentencing hearings were held Wednesday in Randolph County Circuit Court, on charges ranging from drug-related felonies to fleeing from police.
Michael Anthony Hatfield, 32, of Elkins, entered a guilty plea in May to two felony counts of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.
During Wednesday's hearing, his attorney, Lori Gray, stated that Hatfield was not a drug dealer, but had been trying to obtain marijuana for a friend as a favor.
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Hatfield
Hatfield told Circuit Judge Jaymie Godwin Wilfong that participating in the Community Corrections program while on bond has improved his life and his relationship with his child.
Wilfong sentenced Hatfield to one to five years in prison on each count, to run consecutively, for an effective sentence of two to 10 years, and suspended the sentence placing Hatfield on supervised probation. Hatfield must also continue to participate in the Community Corrections program.
Two other charges Hatfield had been indicted on, conspiracy to commit the felony offense of possession with intent to deliver, and conspiracy for planning the crime with an unindicted co-conspirator, were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Also on Wednesday, Tabatha Marie Watson, 23, of Fairmont, was sentenced after entering a guilty plea in May to one count of fleeing from an officer in a vehicle, a felony.
According to testimony Wednesday, an officer had attempted to pull Watson over for speeding on Oct. 23, 2011, but she refused to pull over, leading to a high-speed chase.
Watson was not intoxicated or on drugs at the time, but had been trying to avoid a citation for driving on a suspended license, her attorney, Richard W. Shryock, said.
Watson's 3-year-old daughter was in the car with her at the time, officials said. It was noted that in her statement to police, Watson said she forgot that her daughter was in the vehicle.
"I don't think that's beyond belief, but I do think it's shocking," Wilfong said.
Before sentencing Watson, Wilfong ordered that she undergo a drug test in the jury chambers. The test came back negative for any illegal substances. It was noted that Watson had no major criminal history prior to fleeing from the police.
Wilfong sentenced Watson to one to five years in prison, and suspended the sentence, placing her on supervised probation for three years, including drug screening, in Marion County, where she lives.
The other charge Watson had been indicted on, one count of child neglect creating risk of injury, a felony. was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Also during Wednesday's hearings, Henry K. White, 39, of Elkins, was sentenced after entering a guilty plea in May to one felony count of fleeing from a police officer in a vehicle, and one misdemeanor count of driving with a suspended license, third offense.
In an earlier court hearing, White said he had been convicted "three or four" times for felony auto theft in the early 1990s.
Before sentencing White, Wilfong ordered that he undergo a drug test in the jury chambers. The test came back negative for any illegal substances.
Wilfong sentenced White to one to five years on the felony charge and 90 days on the misdemeanor charge, and suspended the sentence, placing him on three years of supervised probation, to be coordinated with the state of Virginia, where his family lives.
As part of the plea agreement, misdemeanor charges of fleeing from an officer, obstructing an officer, reckless driving, no registration and no insurance against White were dismissed.
Also on Wednesday's docket, Timothy Ray Shuman, 63, was sentenced after earlier pleading guilty to a felony count of failure to register or provide notice of registration changes.
Shuman failed to provide notification of a change in residence after being previously convicted of gross sexual imposition in Summit County, Ohio on Oct. 11, 1990.
Wilfong sentenced Shuman to one to five years in prison, and suspended the sentence, placing him on five years of supervised probation.
