Tori Hinkle

A young wife and mother will serve time in the state penitentiary following an emotional hearing held July 15 in Wetzel County Circuit Court. Also during that hearing, a sealed indictment charging her husband with two counts of drug-related offenses was made public. Both were involved in the possession and delivery of heroin.

Following a guilty plea made June 8, Tori Dale Hinkle, 22, of Paden City, was sentenced to one to five years in the West Virginia Penitentiary for Women for conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance (heroin) on Friday. Additionally, Judge Mark A. Karl gave her credit for 12 days served in prison and also ruled to allow Hinkle a Rule 35 sentence modification motion after successfully serving a minimum of four months. Hinkle is to report to the sheriff’s office July 22 at noon to await incarceration.

Hinkle was devastated at the court’s ruling and made a final plea to Judge Karl, stating she had just regained partial custody of her children. Judge Karl replied sternly that regardless, she was going to serve some time for her offense. Following his ruling the judge added, “I’m hoping you can get your life turned around.”

During her hearing on July 7 Attorney Roger Weese argued for probation or alternative sentencing for his client, stating Hinkle was a young mother of two children hoping to complete her GED and attend college. He went on to say Hinkle had recognized the error of her ways and that her 12 days in jail was sufficient punishment. He added he felt she was the least culpable of those involved in the crime.

Weese addressed her substance abuse problem, stating she has had a severe problem with drugs but following her arrest, she voluntarily enrolled and completed a drug program at John D. Good Recovery Center in Terra Alta, W.Va. Furthermore, Hinkle had requested drug counseling as a part of her sentencing.

Hinkle then addressed the court, expressing her remorse for what she did. Through her tears she stated, “I just want to be a mom to my kids again.”

“She was involved in the conspiracy to deliver. She admits to selling it,” Wetzel County Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Haught said. “We believe she should be sentenced to one to five years in the West Virginia Penitentiary for Women.” Haught went on to say that it had been his experience that heroin users relapse. “This is a very serious offense,” he concluded.

On March 3 the New Martinsville Police Department arrested Hinkle for possession of heroin with the intent to deliver, following a traffic stop made in New Martinsville.

Relatedly, Elson Hinkle, 25, of Paden City, made his first court appearance following the release of his sealed two-count indictment charging him with possession and delivery of a controlled substance (heroin) with the intent to deliver on or about March 3 in Wetzel County. Present without counsel, Elson Hinkle was ordered to file an affidavit for court-appointed counsel and Attorney Kevin Neiswonger was tentatively appointed to the case. Elson Hinkle was released on his former bond and will return July 29 at 10 a.m.

On March 3 at approximately 11:54 p.m., New Martinsville Police Chief Tim Cecil stopped a vehicle heading south on state Route 2 in New Martinsville, just past the railroad track crossing. The vehicle had been crossing the yellow highway lines, leading Chief Cecil to suspect a possible DUI offense. During the stop Cecil noticed the driver, Elson Hinkle, had “glassy eyes” but no smell of alcohol. Chief Cecil called Detective Donnie Harris, who arrived on the scene with the department’s police dog, Kenny. Deputy Randy Adams of the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office and NMPD patrolmen Don Larsen and Bruce Smith also assisted with the incident.

Following a search, 110 stamps of heroin (valued at roughly $4,400) were found on Tori Hinkle’s person. Tori, Elson’s wife, was in the passenger seat.

During a hearing on June 8 Haught added that on the night of the arrest the NMPD received a call from a cooperating individual that heroin was coming into New Martinsville.

Additionally, it was noted Tori Hinkle had been mirandized and gave an oral statement saying she and her husband had gone to Pittsburgh for the drug.