Eric John Spears

Eric John Spears, 27, of HC 62, Box PP, Pine Grove, appeared before Judge Mark A. Karl in Wetzel County Circuit Court on Thursday to hear the judge’s ruling on a Rule 35 sentence modification motion. In this brief hearing, Judge Karl denied Spears’ motion, stating he was not inclined to grant sentence modification due to the seriousness of the offense and because granting such a motion would send the wrong message to the public. Spears was remanded to the Northern Regional Jail to continue serving his 10-25-year sentence.

On March 21 Spears was sentenced to 10-25 years in the West Virginia Penitentiary for Men with credit for time served. On Feb. 9 he pleaded guilty to count three of his six-count indictment, that being sexual assault in the second degree. As his original sentence entails, following his release Spears is to be placed on 50 years supervised probation and must update his sex offender registry with the police. Spears was also ordered to have no contact with the victim in the case and pay the victim’s counseling fees. Per the plea agreement, the remaining five counts of Spears’ indictments were dismissed.

All six counts against Spears were to have occurred in the summer of 2009 in Wetzel County. Counts one and three charge Spears with the felony offense of sexual assault in the second degree. Count one alleges he engaged in sexual intrusion with a female. Count three alleges he engaged in sexual intercourse with the same minor, without her consent. Count five of the indictment charges Spears with the felony offense of sexual assault in the first degree in that he allegedly engaged in sexual contact with the same girl. Counts two, four, and six charge Spears with the felony offense of sexual abuse by a custodian in that he allegedly engaged in sexual intrusion and sexual contact with the same female child under his care, custody, or control.