Judge May Revoke Taylor’s Probation
Various matters made up the docket in Wetzel County Circuit Court under Judge Mark A. Karl on July 14. Cases included three petitions to revoke probation, numerous preliminary hearings, along with one release, capias warrant, and an arraignment.
Charles Ray Taylor Jr., 27, of 111 South Third Avenue, Paden City, was present for a petition to revoke probation. At the defense’s request Taylor’s preliminary hearing was waived and he will face an adjudicatory hearing Aug. 19 at 1:15 p.m. Taylor is remanded to the Northern Regional Jail until that time.
It was learned at Taylor’s hearing on May 26 that he was released from serving his sentence on April 20 and placed on probation, however he 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.
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.
Edwin Dulaney II, 39, of Route 1, Box 22, Smithfield, was present without counsel for his petition to revoke probation. Wetzel County Prosecutor Tim Haught stated an agreement had been made and Adult Probation Officer John Lantz concurred with Haught in motioning to dismiss the petition. Judge Karl released Dulaney, wishing him luck.
Dulaney pleaded guilty to nighttime burglary, an offense said to have occurred on Feb. 24, 2008, and was sentenced to one-15 years in the West Virginia State Penitentiary for Men, however his sentence was suspended and he was placed on two years probation. Dulaney was scheduled to be released on May 21, but on May 19 he was charged and arrested for battery. Dulaney pleaded guilty to the offense of battery and served time for the offense.
Robert Eugene Morgan, 20, of 1374 Thorn Ridge Rd., Friendly, was also present without counsel for his petition to revoke probation. Adult Probation Officer and the state moved to proceed with the revocation and Judge Karl ordered Morgan to fill out an affidavit for public defender eligibility. His return date is set for Aug. 19 at 1:15 p.m.
Per his sentencing, Morgan was put on two year’s supervised probation with Adult Probation Officer John Lantz on Feb. 4 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 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.
James R. Bradley, 39, of HC 60, Box 18, Reader, went before Judge Karl for a preliminary hearing. At his last hearing on June 16 Bradley had made a plea in his federal case which had not yet been accepted. At his hearing on Wednesday Wetzel County Prosecutor Tim Haught stated a plea offer is in the works regarding Bradley’s state charges, however all parties are waiting until the federal case is ruled, which is said to happen sometime this month or in early August. Therefore, Haught asked Bradley’s case be passed until that time. Karl accepted the request and a return date is set for Aug. 20 at 10 a.m. Bradley is remanded to the Northern Regional Jail until that time.
On May 26 the court entered a plea of innocence on his behalf regarding his three-count indictment from Wetzel County said to have occurred on or about Jan. 31. All counts are felony charges of wanton endangerment involving a firearm wherein he allegedly pointed a firearm at Deputy R. L. Scott Jr., Deputy M. L. Koontz, and Deputy R. L. Hayes.
Bradley pleaded in federal court in Wheeling for his offenses on or about Feb. 1 wherein Bradley, having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for at least one year, conspired to commit aggravated assault, and performed aggravated assault by a firearm. Bradley was also federally indicted and pleaded to possession of a sawed-off shotgun, which was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, on or about Feb. 1.
Nicholas Chad Fletcher, 31, of P.O. Box 245, Littleton, failed to appear to his status hearing and as such a capias warrant was issued for his arrest. Wetzel County Prosecutor Tim Haught commented that while he did not know where Fletcher was, Haught had received a fax from Monongalia County that said Fletcher was charged in that county. Furthermore, it was his understanding that Fletcher was out on bond. The state moved for the capias warrant in light of the fact that Fletcher is charged with a malicious wounding in Monongalia County.
On June 16 Fletcher had the court enter innocent pleas for his four-count indictment. In what is alleged to be a cohort case, Fletcher is charged with the same offenses as William Carmen Hadley, 41, of P.O. Box 83, Hundred. On or about Feb. 9 Fletcher and Hadley allegedly committed the felony offense of nighttime burglary (counts one and three) for breaking into the residences of Thelma Hunt of Burton and Cody Nichole Sturm of Hundred.
Counts two and four charge Fletcher and Hadley with the misdemeanor offense of petit larceny. Count two charges the two men with stealing medications belonging to Thelma Hunt, and count four charges them with steeling a Ruger Model 860 44 magnum revolver belonging to Cody Nichole Sturm.
William Carmen Hadley, 41, of P.O. Box 83, Hundred, was present for a preliminary hearing. However, his attorney, Roger Weese, was not. Adult Probation Officer John Lantz attempted to contact Weese, whose office informed Lantz he was unavailable and not aware of Hadley’s hearing on Wednesday. Judge Karl had no choice but to reschedule Hadley’s hearing for Aug. 19 at 1:15 p.m. Hadley is remanded to the Northern Regional Jail until then.
On May 26 Hadley entered innocent pleas on all four counts of his indictment for his offenses said to be partnered with Nicholas Chad Fletcher’s charges.