BY MIRANDA STOKES

Staff Writer

Twelve newly indicted individuals were arraigned in Wetzel County Circuit Court on May 27 with Judge Mark A. Karl presiding. Many will return June 17 to continue matters in their cases while some are scheduled to return later this term. One defendant has already waived this term of court.

Phillip David Montgomery, 20, of 38669 State Route 7, Sardis, appeared before Judge Karl at his hearing on June 8 alongside Attorney Roger Weese. Weese noted a trial date is already set in Ohio for similar charges to those filed in Wetzel County. Wetzel County Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Haught specified that Montgomery is scheduled for trial in Monroe County and has charges pending against him in Marshall County. Because of this Weese stated Montgomery was willing to waive term of court to see to those matters. Without objection from the state Judge Karl set a return date of Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. for further proceedings. Montgomery’s bond continues. ,

On May 27 Montgomery entered a plea of innocence to his 27-count indictment.

Meanwhile, Christopher Lee Richmond, 22, also of 38669 State Route 7, Sardis, has yet to be arraigned on his same 27 charges, as Attorney Kevin Neiswonger has not had a chance to go over all of the charges with Richmond. He added several charges are pending in Marshall County for Richmond as well. A return date was set for June 24 at 10 a.m. Richmond was remanded to the Northern Regional Jail.

Montgomery and Richmond were handed a 27-count indictment each for offenses ranging from burglary to destruction of property and larceny. They are as follows:

Counts one through six charge Montgomery and Richmond with crimes against William Pitoscia said to have occurred between Jan. 7-8 in Wetzel County.

Counts one and six charge Montgomery and Richmond with allegedly committing the felony offense of burglary in that they broke into Pitoscia’s residence located on Harlan Ridge Road.

Count two states Montgomery and Richmond committed the felony offense of entry of a building other than a dwelling in that they entered without breaking an outbuilding located on property belonging to Pitoscia located on Harlan Ridge Road.

Count three charges the two with grand larceny in that he allegedly stole goods and chattels having a cumulative value of more than $1,000 belonging to Pitoscia, with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the same.

Counts four and five allege the two committed the misdemeanor offense of destruction of property in that they broke the window in a door to Pitoscia’s residence, and broke the door to an outbuilding on Pitoscia’s property, thereby damaging the said window and door.

Counts seven and eight charge Montgomery and Richmond with crimes against Anthony Pitoscia also said to have occurred between Jan. 7-8.

Count seven states Montgomery and Richmond committed the felony offense of grand larceny in that they stole goods or chattels, having a cumulative value of more than $1,000 belonging to Anthony Pitoscia, with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the same.

Count eight alleges Montgomery and Richmond committed the misdemeanor offense of destruction of property wherein they broke the window in a door to Anthony Pitoscia’s residence located on Harlan Ridge Road, thereby damaging the said window and door.

Counts nine through 14 charge the two with crimes against Carl Nice said to have occurred between Jan. 7-8 in Wetzel County.

Count nine alleges Montgomery and Richmond committed the felony offense of burglary in that they broke into Nice’s residence located on Brock Ridge Road.

Counts 10 and 11 state they committed the offense of entry of a building other than a dwelling wherein the two entered without breaking an outbuilding located on Nice’s property on Brock Ridge Road.

Count 12 charges them with the misdemeanor offense of petit larceny in that he stole goods and chattels, having a cumulative value of less than $1,000 belonging to Nice, with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the same.

Counts 13 and 14 state Montgomery and Richmond committed the misdemeanor offense of destruction of property wherein they broke a window to Nice’s residence, and the door to an outbuilding belonging to Nice, thereby damaging the said window and door.

Counts 15-17 charge Montgomery and Richmond with crimes against Scott James Urbanek said to have occurred between Jan. 4-10.

Count 15 charges the two with burglary in that they broke into Urbanek’s residence located on Hollman Ridge Road. Count 16 alleges they committed petit larceny in that they stole goods and chattels, having a cumulative value of less than $1,000 from Urbanek, with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the same. And count 17 charges Montgomery with destruction of property wherein he broke a door and lock to Urbanek’s residence, thereby damaging the said door and lock.

Counts 18-20 charge Montgomery and Richmond with crimes against Mark J. Massari said to have occurred between Jan. 4-10.

Count 18 charges them with burglary in that the two broke into Massari’s residence located on Hollman Ridge Road. Count 19 alleges they committed petit larceny in that he stole goods and chattels from Massari, with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the same. And count 20 charges Montgomery with destruction of property wherein he broke a window and damage doors to Massari’s residence.

Counts 21-25 charge Montgomery and Richmond with crimes against James Richmond said to have occurred between Dec. 21-22.

Count 21 charges them with burglary for breaking into Richmond’s residence located on Harlan Ridge Road. Count 22 states they committed the offense of entry of a building other than a dwelling for breaking and entering a detached garage door located on Richmond’s property on Harlan Ridge Road. Count 23 charges both of them with grand larceny in that they stole goods and chattels belonging to Richmond.

Counts 24 and 25 charge Montgomery and Richmond with allegedly committing the misdemeanor offense of destruction of property for breaking a window to Richmond’s residence and breaking the door to a detached garage on Richmond’s property.

Lastly, counts 26 and 27 charge Montgomery and Richmond with the misdemeanor offense of petit larceny for allegedly stealing a 20 gauge Remington Model 870 Express youth shotgun belonging to Cassandra Richmond and for stealing goods and chattels belonging to Kenneth Goddard. Both instances are said to have occurred between Nov. 7 and Jan. 15 in Wetzel County.

Charles Zachary Wells, 21, of Route 1, Box 171, New Martinsville, will return June 17 at 10 a.m. to continue matters in his case. His bond continues.

Codefendant Michael T. Yost, 33, of 639 James Street, New Martinsville, will also return to Wetzel County Circuit Court on June 17 at 10 a.m. He was remanded to the NRJ.

On May 27 Wells entered a plea of innocence to his two-count indictment, however Yost remained silent as the court entered a plea of innocence on his behalf.

Wells and Yost received a two-count indictments each charging them with offenses said to have occurred during the month of March.

Count one charges Wells and Yost with the felony offense of entry of a building other than a dwelling wherein they did break and enter a building housing the Head Quarters Family Hair Salon. Count two states they each committed the misdemeanor offense of petit larceny in that they did carry away a cash register and cash having a cumulative value of less than $1,000 belonging to Jamie Benson, doing business as Head Quarters Family Hair Salon, with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the same.

And Matthew R. Smith, 26, of 502 Foulton Street, Wheeling, remained silent as the court entered a plea of innocence to his two-count indictment for his offense said to have occurred on or about Dec. 21 in Walmart in New Martinsville, located in Wetzel County. During his hearing on May 27 Attorney Jeremiah Gardner asked Smith’s bond be modified. He explained that the bond amount, $20,000, was set due to charges in Marshall County which have since been dismissed. Gardner requested the bond be reduced to $5,000. Judge Karl set bond at $10,000 cash, justification of surety, or professional bondsmen. Smith was remanded to the NRJ and will return June 17 at 10 a.m.

Count one states Smith allegedly committed the felony offense of grand larceny in that he stole three HP Laptop Computers, having a cumulative value of more than $1,000, belonging to Walmart in New Martinsville, with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the same. Count two charges him with the misdemeanor offense of destruction of property in that he broke a display case at Walmart’s New Martinsville location, thereby damaging the said display case.

Melissa Tanley, 25, also of 114 North Second Avenue, Paden City, was arraigned on June 8 wherein she entered a plea of innocence to her one-count charge. Her bond continues and she will return on June 17 at 10 a.m.

Tanley is charged with one count of the felony offense of conspiracy in that on or about Jan. 2, in Wetzel County, Tanley allegedly conspired with Fletcher to deliver Vicodin, a Schedule III controlled substance.

  Kristica Skelley, 29, of 714 North Fourth Avenue, Paden City, remained silent during her arraignment on May 27. The court entered a plea of innocence on her behalf to her one-count indictment. She will return June 17 at 10 a.m. Her bond continues.

Skelley was handed a one-count indictment charging her with the felony offense of possession of a controlled substance (heroin) with intent to deliver. The offense is alleged to have occurred on or about Feb. 21 in Wetzel County. Heroin is a Schedule I controlled substance.

Michelle Renee Huey, 23, of 321 McCabe Drive, Greensburg, Pa., appeared in Wetzel County Circuit Court alongside Attorney Neiswonger, who stated more time was needed to review matters in her case. A return date was set for June 17 at 10 a.m. She was remanded to the NRJ.

On May 27 Huey pleaded innocent to her one count of the felony offense of possession of a controlled substance (heroin) with intent to deliver, alleged to have occurred also on or about Feb. 21 in Wetzel County. Heroin is a Schedule I controlled substance.

Lastly, James Frederick Streets, 51, of HC 61, Box 1, Pine Grove, remained silent on May 27 as the court entered a plea of innocence to his one-count indictment. He was remanded to the NRJ and will return June 17 at 10 a.m.

Streets received a one-count indictment for his offense said to have occurred on or about April 13 in Wetzel County, wherein he allegedly committed the felony offense of manufacturing a controlled substance (marijuana), a Schedule I controlled substance.