James Matthew Doty

“I was on drugs and out of my mind,” James Matthew Doty said as he pleaded guilty to first degree robbery on Monday in Wetzel County Circuit Court.

Following his guilty plea, Doty, 26, of New Martinsville, was sentenced to 15 years in the West Virginia Penitentiary for Men for his offense said to have occurred on or about Nov. 21 wherein Doty allegedly presented a deadly weapon to the clerk at the Budget Inn in New Martinsville and took money from said clerk against the clerk’s will.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, the state agreed to dismiss all other charges pending in circuit court as well as one misdemeanor charge.

However, in addition to court costs Doty is to pay restitution in the amount of $300 to Northern Mountain State Metals, Inc. for the check Doty allegedly forged and cashed between April 11 and 12 in Wetzel County. He is also ordered to pay restitution to New Martinsville’s Budget Inn of America and $200 to the prosecution for investigation fees.

Furthermore, Doty will receive credit for 111 days served and will also receive drug counseling and treatment per his request. During the hearing on Monday Doty stated he was on heroin and Percocet at the time of the robbery and that he was committing the crime to obtain money to buy more drugs.

Had the case gone to trial, Wetzel County Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Haught noted that in addition to Doty’s statement made to Detective Donnie Harris of the New Martinsville Police Department, evidence against Doty would have included a statement from Tori Dale Hinkle, 22, of Paden City.

According to her statement, Hinkle was with him during the robbery but did not know Doty’s intentions. Notably, Hinkle is presently being held in the Northern Regional Jail on a $40,000 cash bond following her arrest on March 3 for possession of heroin with the intent to deliver. Hinkle was found with 110 stamps of heroin on her person following a traffic stop in New Martinsville.