BY MIRANDA STOKES

Staff Writer

Charles Ray Taylor Jr., 27, of 111 South Third Avenue, Paden City, was present in Wetzel County Circuit Court Thursday for a petition to revoke probation. He was released from serving his sentence on April 20 and placed on probation, however allegedly failed to register as a sex offender within three days as required by statute, thus violating his probation. For this, Taylor was additionally charged with the felony offense of failure to register which will be bound over to next term’s grand jury.

As Jeremiah Gardner was appointed to the new felony charge, he was also appointed as Taylor’s attorney regarding the present matter. A return date was set for June 9 at 9 a.m. for a preliminary hearing. The state brought up that Taylor’s alleged victim in the underlying case is local and aware of Taylor’s release and has expressed concerns. For this Judge David Hummel ruled a bond of $10,000 cash or professional bondsman and home confinement if bond is made.

On Sept. 5, 2005, Taylor pleaded guilty to three felony offenses: abduction, second degree sexual assault, and assault during the commission of a felony. He was sentenced on Sept. 30, 2005, and released April 20, 2010.

Rodney Lee Nolan, 24, of HC 62, Box 50A, Burton, was in Wetzel County Circuit Court to proceed with his case. Nolan’s cross evaluation report from Chestnut Ridge Hospital in Morgantown was completed. It concluded he is competent to stand trial, and there is no information on the report to indicate he wouldn’t be criminally responsible. The state noted Nolan gave inculpatory statements in the matter. Gardner then made a motion to suppress evidence. Hummel set a voluntariness hearing for June 9 at 9:15 a.m. Nolan’s bond continues.

Nolan is indicted on three counts of burglary. The three counts are alleged to have occurred between Oct. 1 and Nov. 1, 2008. Count one charges Nolan with intentionally, unlawfully, knowingly, and feloniously breaking and entering the residence of Clint. W. Jones located on County Route 66, commonly known as Harker Run Road in Wetzel County. Count two charges him with intentionally, unlawfully, knowingly, and feloniously breaking and entering the residence of William Lane and Sandra Lane located on Long Drain Earnshaw Road. Count three charges Nolan with intentionally, unlawfully, knowingly, and feloniously breaking and entering the residence of Millar P. Cayavec located on Higginbotham Run Road in Wetzel County.