A New Martinsville woman pleaded to drug and child abuse charges in Wetzel County Circuit Court on April 29. Judge David Hummel Jr. offered suspended sentences with various conditions.

Lujuana Louise Striegle, 22, of 187 North State Route 2, New Martinsville, pleaded guilty to four felony counts. With her attorney Jeremiah Gardner she stood before Judge Hummel and special prosecutor Worthy Paul. Hummel sentenced Striegle to the West Virginia State Penitentiary for Women for a concurrent sentence of one-15 years. Count one, felony offense of possession of a controlled substance (heroin) with intent to deliver holds a sentence of one-15 years, as does her separate indictment of felony offense delivery of a controlled substance (Vicodin). Counts two and three of her three-county indictment-felony offense possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) with intent to deliver, and felony offense child neglect creating risk of serious bodily injury or death-hold a sentence of one-five years each. Striegle was given credit for 50 days served.

However, her sentence was suspended to: five years on adult supervised probation, successful completion of the drug court program, and registry to the child abuse and neglect registry for the rest of her life. Additionally, Striegle forfeited the cash found in her home and must reimburse $40 for the controlled buy conducted in her home. This ruling stemmed from the plea agreement and Paul’s belief that the primary concerns are the children. It was clarified Striegle’s two children would remain in her custody unless she did not complete drug court. Should she not successfully complete the drug court the children would be put into foster care. The state’s genuine wish was that the children know their own mother. Also for the benefit of Striegle and her children, they are ordered to relocate to Marshall County to get Striegle away from her social circles and allow her the accessibility to attend Marshall County’s drug court counseling program.

Striegle holds a four-count conviction. Three counts are said to have occurred on or about Jan. 12. While the separate indictment, felony offense of delivery of a controlled substance (Vicodin), is to have occurred on or about Dec. 21, 2009.

Two cases were dismissed in Wetzel County Circuit Court. Vincent Wesley Wade, 25, of P.O. Box 323, Hundred, was present for a plea. Alongside his attorney, Jeremiah Gardner, Vincent Wade agreed to make restitution of $735 for the cost of Roger Watson’s four-wheeler which was set on fire. His case was then dismissed in circuit court and remanded to magistrate court.

Vincent Wade held a one-count indictment of third-degree arson wherein on or about July 26, 2009, he allegedly willfully, maliciously, intentionally, unlawfully, knowingly, and feloniously set fire to a 1986 Honda 250cc Four Trax four-wheeler at the intersection of state Route 250 and Petit’s Flat Road in Wetzel County.

Herbert C. Rice, 49, of HC 61, Box 53, Knob Fork, went before Hummel for a status hearing. Present with attorney Kevin Neiswonger and state special prosecutor Worthy Paul, it was promptly ruled Rice’s case be dismissed without prejudice. Rice does however have bond supervision in Berkeley County.

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 a custodian. He also faced charges in Berkley County in June.

In a companion case Amy Rice, Herbert’s wife, was also present in Judge Hummel’s courtroom as she faced the Honorable Judith Goontz and the state for a writ of prohibition. After several moments of conversation between counsel regarding the logic of moving this case forward given its parent case’s dismissal just minutes before, a lengthy bench conversation took place. As this is an especially atypical case, Hummel decided he would rule later on the matter.