Judge Mark A. Karl heard several cases over the course of three days last week in Wetzel County Circuit Court. A total of 10 cases were heard between Aug. 18 and Aug. 20. The docket included several status hearings, sentence modification requests, one release, and one plea.

An adjudicatory hearing was scheduled for Charles Ray Taylor Jr., 27, of 111 South Third Avenue, Paden City, however against the advice of his counsel Taylor pleaded guilty to violating his probation. He allegedly failed to register as a sex offender within three days as required by statute following his release from the West Virginia Penitentiary for Men on April 20. On Sept. 30, 2005, Taylor had been sentenced to serve three to 10 years and serve five years probation for abduction, second degree sexual assault, and assault during the commission of a felony.

Taylor’s attorney Jeremiah Gardner asked the court to take mercy on Taylor for his mistake in understanding when he was to register, stating Taylor thought he had 10 days to register instead of only three. Upon the state’s recommendation Judge Karl sentenced Taylor to the West Virginia Penitentiary for Men for no less than 10 and no more than 25 years, the original sentence for second degree sexual assault, the charge for which he received probation.

Howard P. Mackey Jr., 41, of P.O. Box 195, Hundred, was released and placed on probation for one year as per his plea agreement for possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) with the intent to deliver.

The state noted Mackey had served an excess of 180 days and had not given the state any pause for concern regarding his release. Attorney Roger Weese added Mackey had done everything required of him including receiving his GED and maintaining perfect attendance. He furthermore earned many certificates while incarcerated. Mackey’s codefendant, Linda Fordyce, was released on Aug. 9 and placed on one year’s supervised probation following 180 days served in the West Virginia Penitentiary for Women.

Mackey and Fordyce pleaded guilty to the felony offense of possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) with the intent to deliver. The codefendants were sentenced to one to five years in the West Virginia State Penitentiary with credit for time served and given opportunity to file a Rule 35 sentence modification request in six months. If granted sentence modification, they would then serve probation for one year. Mackey and Fordyce were also ordered to pay all court costs.

Michael R. Alleman, 38, of 45524 Th. 2211, Clarington, must await a decision regarding his Rule 35 sentence modification request following his hearing on Aug. 19. The state opposed the motion, citing the severity of Alleman’s offenses. “He stole three tractors from a business here in town but on top of that he fled the police into the State of Ohio which was a dangerous situation for the public and the law enforcement,” Wetzel County Prosecutor Tim Haught stated. “He was at large for some time.”

Attorney Weese spoke on Alleman’s behalf, noting Alleman’s served 10-and-a-half months so far. Weese further requested Alleman serve the balance of his sentence on home confinement, as he is responsible for six children and has a job waiting for him. Weese also said Alleman has had a rough time in prison and has been beaten up but has resisted striking back. “He’s doing his best to keep it together and do what’s required of him.”

Judge Karl said he’d take the case under advisement and will make a decision Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.

Alleman pleaded guilty to grand larceny at his hearing on Feb 5 and was sentenced March 5 to one to 10 years in the West Virginia State Penitentiary for Men with credit for 150 days served. He was also ordered to pay $795 restitution and court costs. Between July 25 and 26, 2009, Alleman and a female subject came to Bridgeport Equipment and Tools on three separate occasions and carried away a John Deere tractor Model LA 105, a John Deere tractor Model X300, and a John Deere tractor Model X540, each having a value of more than $1,000, belonging to Bridgeport Equipment and Tools in New Martinsville. The female subject cooperated fully while Alleman alluded the police upon a police pursuit.

William Carmen Hadley, 41, of P.O. Box 83, Hundred, was present for a preliminary hearing alongside his attorney, Weese, who stated they’d received a plea offering. “We’re not in complete agreement, but not that far apart,” Weese noted. Hadley agreed to waive his term of court and Judge Karl set a return date for Sept. 15 at 10 a.m.

Hadley allegedly partnered with Nicholas Chad Fletcher on or about Feb. 9 to commit 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 are misdemeanor offense of petit larceny.