Judge Mark A. Karl presided in Wetzel County Circuit Court on Aug. 16 as several individuals appeared to continue matters pertaining to their cases. One defendant admitted to violation probation and a few are ready to enter pleas before this term of court ends. Many are scheduled to return to court Friday at 10 a.m.

Michael R. Alleman, 39, of 45524 Th. 2211, Clarington, admitted to violating probation by ingesting controlled substances. Attorney Roger Weese requested time to argue sentencing, and also shared with the court that his client had written a letter to the court, which was presented and filed. Alleman was remanded to the Northern Regional Jail and will return to circuit court Aug. 26 at 10 a.m.

According to Adult Probation Officer John Lantz’s report against the defendant, Lantz was contacted on June 30 by the Monroe County probation officer, stating Alleman had appeared for a drug screening and had tested positive for marijuana and cocaine. At that time, Alleman had admitted to using marijuana. Additionally, apparently Alleman had appeared for a drug screening earlier that same day, but abnormal results rendered the test inconclusive.

After serving 13 months in prison, Alleman was granted sentence modification and was placed on one year’s probation with six months of that probation being home confinement.

Alleman pleaded guilty to grand larceny at his hearing on Feb. 5, 2010, 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 went to Bridgeport Equipment and Tools on three separate occasions and carried away a John Deere tractor Model LA 105, Serial No. GX A 105A225685; a John Deere tractor Model X300, Serial No. M0X300C042934; and a John Deere tractor Model X540, Serial No. M0X540A043148; 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.

In another matter, although it was planned to elect a trial date for one of his cases during court on Aug. 16, Warren Todd Wade, 47, of HC 68 Box 21, Wileyville, wrote Judge Karl a letter indicating he was willing to enter a plea to certain aspects of his charges against him. With this news the judge urged all parties to come to a resolution as soon as possible, preferably before the next term of court in September. Wade was remanded to the NRJ and at this time is scheduled to return Sept. 14 at 10 a.m.

On Oct. 4 Wade entered innocent pleas to a total of 11 indictments from the September 2010 term. Wade received a three-count indictment for his offenses, said to have occurred on or about Sept. 11. Counts one and two of this indictment charge Wade with the felony offense of wanton endangerment involving a firearm in that he allegedly pointed a firearm at Cpl Roger G. Spragg II and Deputy R. L. Scott Jr. in Wetzel County. Count three charges Wade with the misdemeanor offense of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in that he did possess a firearm and had been convicted of one count of grand larceny during the month of September 2007 in Wetzel County.

In his second indictment, Wade is charged with one count each of the felony offense of sexual assault in the first degree and sexual abuse by a custodian wherein between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28 Wade, being 14 years old or more, allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse with a female child, who was younger than 12 years old and was not married to Wade. Count two of the indictment alleges that between the same span of time Wade engaged in sexual intercourse with a female child under his care, custody, or control.

Wade’s third indictment charges him with one count each of the felony offense of fleeing from an officer while driving under the influence of alcohol wherein on or about June 7 Wade, being under the influence of alcohol, fled in an all terrain vehicle on state Route 7 in Wetzel County from Deputy R. L. Scott Jr. after Deputy Scott had activated his blue lights in an attempt to stop the vehicle. Count two of this indictment alleges that on or about the same date Wade drove an all terrain vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

In his fourth indictment Wade is charged with one count each of the felony offense of entry of a building other than a dwelling and grand larceny wherein between Sept. 7 and Sept. 8 Wade allegedly entered Gary Cecil Motors in New Martinsville. Count two of the indictment alleges that during that time Wade stole a Ford F-150 pick-up truck having a value of more than $1,000 belonging to Gary Cecil Motors.

Wade is also charged with one count of the felony offense of sexual abuse in the first degree wherein on or about Feb. 7, 2010, he allegedly engaged in sexual contact with a named male.

Lastly, Wade is charged with one count of the felony offense of receiving stolen goods wherein between April 28 and June 7 Wade allegedly received a stolen 2006 Kawasaki Model 750 all terrain vehicle in Wetzel County which he knew or had reason to believe had been stolen.

Following negotiations and working around conflicting work schedules between the defendant and his counsel, Howard Ray Starkey, 23, of 1026 Third Street, New Martinsville, will enter a plea regarding his four-count indictment for offenses said to have occurred between Feb. 15 and March 24 in Wetzel County on Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. His bond continues.

Counts one and three charge Starkey with the felony offense of burglary in that he allegedly entered the residence of Robert and Ruth Starkey located at HC 62, Box 40, Pine Grove, with the intent to commit a crime in two occurrences.

Counts two and four charge Starkey with the felony offense of grand larceny wherein he allegedly stole firearms having a cumulative value of more than $1,000 belonging to Robert Michael King at two separate occasions.

Similarly, Jimmy Dean Barnhart, 46, of 149 Elm Street, New Martinsville, is ready to enter a plea following several negotiations. He will return Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. His bond continues.

On May 27 Barnhart pleaded innocent to his one-count indictment charging him with third offense driving under the influence of alcohol wherein he allegedly drove a motor vehicle on North Fourth Avenue in Paden City while under the influence of alcohol on or about July 23.

Barnhart was previously convicted of the offense of driving under the influence of alcohol in the Magistrate Court of Tyler County on or about April 6, 2001, and in the Magistrate Court of Pleasants County on or about Aug. 19, 2004.

Meanwhile, Melissa Tanley, 25, of 114 North Second Avenue, Paden City, is still considering a plea offer and will return Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. Her bond continues.

Tanley was arraigned on June 8 wherein she entered a plea of innocence to her one-count charge.

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 Michael Fletcher, 29, also of 114 North Second Avenue, Paden City, to deliver Vicodin, a Schedule III controlled substance.

Justin Raymond Wyatt, 23, of 1000 Chapline Street, Wheeling, appeared in Wetzel County Circuit Court alongside Attorney Kevin Neiswonger, who stated his client wished for him to make a counter offer to the state before entering into a plea agreement. Wyatt was remanded to the NRJ and will return Aug. 26 at 10 a.m.

On Jan. 26 Wyatt and codefendant Jaynathan Earl Jones, 21, of New Martinsville, entered pleas of innocence to their one-count indictment each of first degree robbery for their acts said to have occurred on or about Sept. 8 in Wetzel County. Jones and Wyatt allegedly committed robbery by striking and beating a male individual and stealing that individual’s wallet and money in New Martinsville.

A voluntariness hearing was set in circuit court on Aug. 16 for Kristica Skelley, 30, of 714 North Fourth Avenue, Paden City, however her case was continued instead. Skelley remains on bond and will return Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. She is charged with the felony offense of possession of a controlled substance (heroin) with intent to deliver.