In addition to new indictments, three older cases were heard in Wetzel County Circuit Court before Judge David W. Hummel Jr. Thursday.

Robert Eugene Morgan, 19, of 1374 Thorn Ridge Rd., Friendly, was put on two year’s supervised probation with Adult Probation Officer John Lantz after spending time in the Anthony Center for Youthful Offenders. Morgan illustrated exemplary behavior at the center, earning his GED and certificate in welding. Morgan said he now wanted to try to find a job.

Morgan was indicted on one count of attempted entry of a building other than a dwelling, in which it is alleged on Nov. 18, 2007, he attempted to break into Norris Pharmacy in Pine Grove with intent to commit a larceny. Morgan was sentenced to one to three years in the West Virginia Penitentiary for Men, then that sentence was suspended and he was ordered to the Anthony Center for Youthful Offenders for a period of six months to two years.

Upon successful completion of the program, he would be placed on probation.

Herbert C. Rice, 49, of HC 61, Box 53, Knob Fork, has hearings set in Berkley County and discovery was not yet tendered in the case in Wetzel County. A mandatory status conference was set for March 4 at 9 a.m.

At his last hearing in Wetzel County, significant developments were recently discovered and were privately brought to the court’s attention. A trial date is set for Jan. 4. Rice was indicted in May 2007 on one count first degree sexual assault involving a child, one count first degree sexual abuse, one count incest, and one count sexual abuse by custodian. He also faced charges in Berkley County in June.

George D. Burch, 66, of 302 West Main St., Paden City, appeared in court along with his attorney Patricia Kurelec. It was stated that Burch would undergo a psychological evaluation by Feb. 12. A return date was set for March 4 at 9:15 a.m.

Burch faces a three-count indictment: count one, failure to update sex offender registry information, failing or refusing to report his move to a new address; count two, failure to register as a sex offender in the month of his birth to the State Police detachment to have allegedly occurred between the the dates of Sept. 1 and 30, 2007; and count three, failure to register as a sex offender in the month of his birth to the State Police detachment to have allegedly occurred between the dates of Sept. 1 and 30, 2008.

Although the room was full, several failed to appear: Donna Greathouse, Jerry Greathouse, Gregory Shaw, William Parks, and David Lee Perrine each had their capias warrants continued from the September 2009 term. Meanwhile a few were misscheduled: Rebecca Dawn Beltran was set to return March 4 at 9:15 a.m., Matthew Lee Farmer was set to return the following day along with Cody M. Rine and Jason Ray Hendershot, and Michael Alan Glover made restitution and his case was dismissed. Lastly, Herbert John Rogers appeared in court for a misdemeanor indictment. His matter was remanded to Magistrate Court. The court established a personal recognizance bond of $2,000 and ordered there be no contact with the alleged victim in his case.