Michael T. Yost

In Wetzel County Circuit Court on Aug. 19, Michael T. Yost, 33, of 639 James Street, New Martinsville, was sentenced to one to 10 years in the West Virginia State Penitentiary for Men, with credit for time served, for entry of a building other than a dwelling–an offense for which he pleaded guilty to in circuit court on July 8. Yost was remanded to the Northern Regional Jail to be transferred to the state facility.

Yost’s sentence coincided with the state’s recommendations based on Yost’s past criminal conduct. Holding prior convictions, Wetzel County Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Haught stated one to 10 years was the appropriate sentence.

Defense Attorney Jeremiah Gardner asked the court to consider probation for the defendant, stating the main reason this crime occurred was because Yost was suffering from substance abuse, a condition the defendant supposedly no longer suffers from since incarceration.

“Probation is for someone who is a first time offender,” Judge Karl underlined, thus carrying out the state’s recommended punishment.

Relatedly, codefendant Charles Zachary Wells, 21, of Route 1, Box 171, New Martinsville, is scheduled to return to circuit court Sept. 14 at 10 a.m.

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

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 Headquarters 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 Headquarters Family Hair Salon, with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the same.