Four individuals were released from incarceration following the granting of Rule 35 sentence modification motions in Wetzel County Circuit Court on June 24. They will all serve time on probation. Judge Mark A. Karl presided.

Michelle Lasure, 28, of HC 60, Box 82, Pine Grove, was granted release from incarceration and was placed on two years supervised probation.

It was noted in court that while Lasure exhibited exceptional behavior while incarcerated, her record shows she had a poor attitude. Wetzel County Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Haught stated he was concerned with her “bad attitude,” to which Judge Karl concurred. Judge Karl then sternly spoke to Lasure, advising her to behave properly while on probation. With all that said however, he summated, “I know I’m going to see you (Lasure) back (here).”

Lasure was incarcerated after admitting on Feb. 9 to violating probation, she was then ordered to serve her original sentence of two concurrent one to 10 year terms in the West Virginia State Penitentiary for Women. That original sentence was handed down by Judge David W. Hummel Jr. on March 4, 2010, after Lasure pleaded guilty to one-count forgery and one-count uttering (counts one and two of her 12-count indictment). The remaining counts, five each of forgery and uttering, were dismissed per her plea agreement. However, Hummel had suspended incarceration and ordered Lasure to two years supervised probation.

Lasure had admitted in February to violating the rules and terms of her probation for using illegal drugs without a prescription, wherein on at least two occasions Lasure tested positive for drugs.

Lasure allegedly, between Feb. 20 and 28, 2009, forged the signature of another person, Garnett Harrison, on the WesBanco account of Garnett A. Harrison and Sherlyn D. Moore, and made payable in the amount of $50 four separate times, $75 once, and $30 once. She also allegedly committed uttering when she employed the WesBanco checks to be signed as true. All of these checks were made payable and cashed at Simon’s Market in Pine Grove.

Similarly, Kimberly Jane Rial, 20, of 79 North 28 Rose Street, New Martinsville, was also granted a Rule 35 sentence modification motion after serving time in the West Virginia Penitentiary for Women and the Beckley Correctional Center. However, Rial is also presently serving time for a Tyler County charge of attempted breaking and entering, wherein she was sentenced to one to three years. Judge Karl granted her release on the Wetzel County charge but she must serve out the remaining weeks left on her Tyler County charge. Upon her release she will serve two years supervised probation.

Like with Lasure, it was further noted Rial’s attitude was unsatisfactory. Additionally, write-ups were recorded against her for her behavior while incarcerated. “Apparently incarceration hasn’t gotten your attention, has it?” Judge Karl asked Rial.

On Feb. 5 Rial pleaded guilty to her four counts: count one being felony offense burglary, count two being misdemeanor offense obtaining money, property, and services by false pretense, and counts three and four being misdemeanor offense petty larceny. Rial entered into a plea agreement to serve one-10 years in the West Virginia State Penitentiary for Women for her count one felony charge and up to a year for each misdemeanor counts. Under her sentence, she was allowed parole after 18 months. If she did not make parole at that time she was then eligible to petition for Rule 35 sentence modification.

Rial took a coin jar, camera, gold coins, and cash totaling less than $1,000 from a Mr. McDougal’s residence. His money and belongings were recovered. Rial also obtained money from the New Martinsville United Methodist Church under false pretense in the amount of less than $1,000 by representing herself as a homeless person with two children. Lastly, she stole gasoline at Go-Mart twice on Dec. 19, with the sum being less than $1,000.

Thomas Clark Johnson, 29, of 312 Mount View Gardens, Waynesburg, Pa., was also released on a Rule 35 sentence modification motion following his hearing on Friday. Per his plea agreement, Johnson was placed on two years supervised probation and also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $740 to the victim in his case.

On March 18 Johnson pleaded guilty by way of information to one count of conspiracy to commit uttering. For this he was sentenced to the West Virginia Penitentiary for Men for a period of one to five years with credit for 86 days served. Johnson’s other charges were dismissed.

Johnson was indicted on three counts of the felony offense of forgery said to have occurred between July 22-23, 2010, in Wetzel County wherein he allegedly unlawfully, feloniously, and with the intent to defraud, forged the signature of another person to checks issued by Johnson and made payable to “Thomas Johnson” in the amounts of $240, $300, and $200 respectively to each count. These checks were cashed at a store in Hundred.

Lastly, Jason S. Noland, 24, of 819 Fifth Street, Apt. 1, New Martinsville, appeared in Wetzel County Circuit Court on a Rule 35 sentence modification motion after serving six months of his sentence. Pursuant to his plea agreement, Judge Karl ordered Noland’s release. Noland will serve the balance of his probation in Georgia.

On Jan. 6 Noland pleaded guilty to his one-count charge of felony possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) with intent to deliver. Noland was sentenced to one to five years in the West Virginia State Penitentiary for Men with credit for 14 days served.

The felony offense was said to have occurred on or about June 29, 2010, wherein Noland allegedly possessed marijuana, a Schedule I controlled substance, in Wetzel County with the intent to deliver the same said marijuana.