Anderson

ELKINS — A Randolph County man, whose plea deal in December reduced 29 felony counts — including 17 felony counts of sexual abuse — to one felony charge, was sentenced Wednesday morning in Randolph County Circuit Court.

Steven David Anderson, 62, of Huttonsville, was sentenced to no less than one and no more than three years in prison, with credit for time served, for the charge of attempt to commit sexual assault in the first degree, a felony.

Anderson, once released, will be under extended supervision for 20 years and will not be allowed any contact with minors. He was remanded immediately after sentencing.

In December, Anderson pled guilty to one count of attempt to commit sexual assault in the first degree. Anderson agreed to an Alford plea, also known as Kennedy plea, meaning he did not have to admit to the criminal act and could assert his innocence, but he still accepted the imposition of a sentence. 

Anderson was initially indicted in 2023 on 17 felony counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian or custodian; two felony counts of sexual assault in the first degree; one felony count of assault during the commission of or attempt to commit a felony; one felony count of wanton endangerment involving a firearm; two felony counts of incest; one felony count of sexual abuse in the first degree; and five felony counts of child abuse resulting in bodily injury. 

During the December plea hearing, Lewis and Upshur County Circuit Court Judge Kurt Hall, who presided over the case, stated that Anderson would have had to be reborn to fully serve out the sentence of all 29 charges, even if just one or two were run consecutively.

Anderson appeared in court Wednesday morning with around 20 supporters, consisting of friends and family. Hall noted that several supporters had written letters to the court. Hall said he had also received letters from the victims in the case, who were not in attendance at Wednesday’s hearing.

Before sentencing, Randolph County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Christina Harper told Hall that the state had no recommendation for sentencing, though she asked that, once released, Anderson be placed under extended supervision for 25 years. She also asked that Anderson not be allowed any contact with anyone under the age of 18.

Anderson’s attorney, James Hawkins Jr., asked the court to consider alternative sentencing for his client, pointing out Anderson has had no run-ins with the law before other than speeding tickets, owns a long-running business in Huttonsville and has the full support of his family, friends and those in the community.

“He’s an ideal candidate for an alternative sentence,” Hawkins told the court. “I mentioned no criminal history… good social history, as I mentioned, an exceptional support in the community. Hard-working individual. Someone who is accountable by his person, his presence… someone who the community looks up to, your honor.”

Hawkins also cited a psychological assessment of Anderson that showed he is at a “low risk” to re-offend and is a “low risk” for recidivism.

Anderson also addressed the court before sentencing. Maintaining his innocence, Anderson began by detailing the extensive work he’s done with children over the years, including fostering children since he was 19.

“I am not at all this evil person these girls are trying to make me out to be,” Anderson told the court. “I have taken care of other people’s children since I was 19 years old… I’ve taught children Bible school classes, I’ve coached little league baseball games… I coached at Mountain Ridge Junior High for the seventh-grade girls basketball team… I’ve had more kids in my home than I can count. I have never been in trouble for abuse of a child, or anyone, until now.”

Anderson also began to describe details about one of the victims before Hall stopped him, calling Anderson out for disparaging the victim.

“This is an opportunity for you to ask for mercy, not to trash the victim in this manner,” Hall said. “Don’t read any more of that. Ask this court for leniency and mercy. I’m not going to allow you to continue to talk about the character of the victim in this way.”

Hall reminded Anderson that he had taken a plea and that means he is therefore guilty in the eyes of the law.

“Your lawyer came in here and set the stage for, ‘I’m not guilty’ and all this stuff,” Hall said. “You’re guilty, Mr. Anderson. You’re about to be sentenced in a couple minutes… You’re going to tell me why I shouldn’t sentence you to the penitentiary, not what this child is or who this child is or who this lady is now. This is about Mr. Anderson.”

Anderson continued to claim his innocence and asked Hall to please judge him “righteously” and to consider how much his family needs him.

Before sentencing Anderson, Hall emphasized that Anderson’s social standing was a factor in his ultimate decision.

“The court does have an obligation to protect the community at large,” Hall said. “The rest of Randolph County, as it were, and, again, applying your position in the community, the fact that you are a business owner, the fact that you do have a position in the church, the fact that you are a person of position in the community, that makes it more important to protect the community.”