The Honorable Judge Jeffrey D. Cramer, Chief Judge of the Second Judicial Circuit, presided over the following matters in Wetzel County Circuit Court on Monday, February 26, 2023, and Friday, March 3, 2023.

On the morning of Monday, February 26, 2023, Judge Cramer heard the following matters:

Robert Lee Bissett, age 37, with address listed at 297 Old Railroad Street. Littleton, WV, appeared before the Court for a plea. Mr. Bissett was represented by Attorney Roger Curry of the Public Defender Corporation (PDC). The State of West Virginia was represented by Wetzel County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Justin Craft. Mr. Bissett was indicted by a Wetzel County Grand Jury during the September 2022 term on six felony counts of Child Abuse Causing Bodily Injury. At the Monday, February 26, 2023, plea hearing, Mr. Bissett pled guilty to one of the six charges. The Court accepted the plea and ordered a pre-sentencing investigation. The remaining five charges will be dismissed with prejudice. Mr. Bissett was instructed to contact the Probation Department before leaving the Courthouse to begin the pre-sentencing investigation. A Probation Officer made contact with Mr. Bissett before Mr. Bissett rose from his chair. Additionally, Mr. Bissett was instructed by the Court to report to the West Virginia State Police within three days to register with that agencyás Child Abuse Registry. Mr. Bissett will remain free on bond and will return to court when the pre-sentencing investigation is complete.

Rickey Dean Fuller-Gilliland, age 23, with addresses listed at 1149 FM 2123, Paradise, Texas, and 109 Caster Avenue, Donora, Pennsylvania, appeared in custody before the Court for a status hearing. Mr. Fuller-Gilliland was represented by Attorney Roger Curry of the PDC. The State was represented by Wetzel County Assistant Prosecutor Justin Craft. Mr. Fuller-Gilliland was indicted by a Wetzel County Grand Jury during the September 2021 term on a twelve count felony indictment: two counts of Strangulation, two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, four counts of Sexual Assault in the Second Degree, and four counts of Domestic Battery. Not guilty pleas were entered on all charges at the October 17, 2022, arraignment. Plea negotiations have been unsuccessful. A trial date of March 2, 2023, has been reset to Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at 9:00 AM. The Court directed that Mr. Fuller-Gilliland may be brought to court in civilian clothing on that date. Mr. Fuller-Gilliland was remanded.

Zachary Taylor Kile, age 36, with address listed at 113 Springdale Street, Sistersville, WV, appeared before the Court for a status hearing. Mr. Kile was represented by Attorney Dustin N. Schirmer of the Parkersburg, WV, law firm of Summers & Associates. The State was represented by Wetzel County Prosecutor Tim Haught. Attorney Michael Baum of the Wheeling law firm of Edmond & Baum is serving as Guardian ad Litem in the matter. Mr. Kile was indicted by a Wetzel County Grand Jury during the May 2022 term on one felony count of Sexual Assault in the First Degree, one felony count of Sexual Abuse by a Custodian, and one felony count of Incest. Judge Cramer noted that the Court was in recent receipt of a voluminous quantity of confidential records pertaining to the matter. A return to court of Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at 1:00 PM, for a Suppression hearing was scheduled. Mr. Kile’s bond was continued.

On the morning of Friday, March 3, 2023, Judge Cramer heard the following matters:

Richard Eugene Himelrick, age 69, with address listed at 5295 Hornet Highway, Hundred, WV, appeared in custody before the Court on a Revocation of Probation matter. Mr. Himelrick was represented by Attorney David White of the Moundsville law firm of Neiswonger & White. The State was represented by Wetzel County Prosecutor Tim Haught. On August 6, 2021, Mr Himelrick entered a plea of guilty to a felony charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver. He was sentenced to one to five years with the sentence suspended and placed on twenty-four to thirty-six months of supervised probation. A Petition for Revocation was filed by the Wetzel County Prosecutor’s Office on January 26, 2023. At the Friday, March 3, 2023, hearing,Mr. Himelrick admitted he had failed to report a recent interaction with law enforcement to the Probation Department. The Court accepted the admission. It was noted that this was Mr. Himelrick’s second probation violation. The Court ruled that the time recently served by Mr. Himelrick be credited as acceptable sanction for the probation violation. Mr. Himelrick was remanded to the Northern Regional Jail to be released to probation later in the day.

Timothy Jay Kernan, age 54, with address listed at 615 Kapple Street, New Martinsville, WV, appeared before the Court for a plea. Mr. Kernan was represented by Attorney Howard Klatt of the Klatt Law Offices of Wheeling. The State was represented by Wetzel County Prosecutor Tim Haught. Mr. Kernan was indicted by a Wetzel County Grand Jury during the September 2022 term on a single felony count of Delivery of a Controlled Substance. At the Friday, March 3, 2023, plea hearing, Mr. Kernan pled guilty to the single felony count. The Court sentenced him to one to fifteen years with the sentence suspended and Mr. Kernan to serve three years of supervised probation. Additionally, Mr. Kernan must pay the costs of prosecution and all court appointed attorney fees. Mr. Kernan was instructed to see the Probation Officer before leaving the building.

Natasha Marie Lewis, age 34, with address listed at 1250 North State Route Two, #36, appeared in custody before the Court for arraignment. Ms. Lewis was represented by Attorney Roger Curry of the PDC. The State was represented by Wetzel County Prosecutor Tim Haught. Ms. Lewis was indicted by a Wetzel County Grand Jury during the January 2023 term on a four count felony indictment: two counts of Conspiracy to Deliver a Controlled Narcotic Substance and two counts of Transportation of Controlled Substances into State. At the Friday, March 3, 2023, arraignment, not guilty pleas were entered to all counts and Defense Attorney Curry requested Discovery. The Court established a schedule for discovery activities and set a return to court date of Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at 9:00 AM. Ms. Lewis was remanded.

Charles Zachary Wells, age 33, with address listed at 5885 American Ridge Road, New Martinsville, WV, appeared in custody before the Court on a Revocation of Probation matter. Mr. Wells was represented by Attorney Roger Curry of the PDC. The State was represented by Wetzel County Prosecutor Tim Haught. Mr. Wells admitted he violated his probation and he will apply for and be evaluated for Drug Court. The fifty-eight days of incarceration he has recently served were viewed as an acceptable sanction and he was released to probation.

Johnny Paul Stevens, age 50, with address listed at 235 Crabapple Lane, Mannington, WV, appeared in custody before the Court for a plea. Mr. Stevens was represented by Attorney David White of the Moundsville law firm of Neiswonger & White. The State was represented by Wetzel County Prosecutor Tim Haught. Mr. Stevens was indicted by a Wetzel County Grand Jury during the September 2022 term on a sixteen count felony/misdemeanor indictment: two felony counts of Burglary, four felony counts of Entering a Building Other than a Dwelling, one felony count of Grand Larceny, five misdemeanor counts of Destruction of Property, and four misdemeanor counts of Entry of an Automobile. At the Friday, March 3, 2023, plea hearing, Mr. Stevens entered an Alford/Kennedy plea to the Grand Larceny charge. An Alford/Kennedy plea is a guilty plea entered in a criminal court whereby a defendant does not admit guilt to the criminal act and asserts innocence but admits that the evidence presented by the Prosecution would likely persuade a Judge or Jury to find them guilty. The Court will defer the entry of Mr. Stevensá plea for a period of two years and Mr. Stevens will be placed on two years of supervised probation. Mr. Stevens must make restitution and he must pay the costs of prosecution and court appointed attorney fees. The remaining counts are to be dismissed with prejudice. Mr. Stevens was released to the Probation Department.