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Long Sentenced To 2-10 Years

By Staff | Jul 23, 2014

Amanda Renee Long was sentenced July 15 to two to 10 years in the West Virginia Penitentiary for Women July 15 in Wetzel County Circuit Court. Long had pleaded guilty before the Honorable Judge David W. Hummel on June 24 to possession of precursors to methamphetamine.

Prosecuting Attorney Timothy Haught noted at the sentencing hearing that unbeknownst to the state, Long had also recently been indicted in Tyler County for drug-related offenses.

Long’s attorney, Jeremiah Gardner, noted that he had gone over the pre-sentencing report, prepared by Chief Probation Officer John D. Lantz, with his client. Gardner stated he had no changes to make to the report but would like to submit two certificates to the court, along with letters that had been written in her favor by Long’s family.

Long apologized to the court for any burden her actions had caused. She specifically apologized to Judge Hummel, Prosecutor Haught, and the New Martinsville Police Department. Long stated that looking back she realized the “seriousness of my actions.” She mentioned first responders showing up the night she was arrested, adding that had she not been caught “I might not be here today.”

Long stated she obtained certificates from the jail and was clean. “It’s an understatement to say that drugs ruined my life,” she stated emotionally. “I want more out of life,” she added, stating that she wanted to support her family and her 10-year-old daughter. Long added she had potential to be a productive member of society.

Bill Crawford, a friend of Long, then spoke on her behalf, stating, “The Amanda the court sees today is the one I know.” Crawford reiterated the fact that Long was “very, very, very sorry.”

Prosecutor Haught first approached the topic of restitution in the matter, as Long owes $6,999.20 for clean-up of the Plaza Inn. Hummel ordered that there be a civil judgement brought against Long for this amount, in that she will owe the hotel’s insurance the funds.

Haught stated that five offenses led to Long’s arrest. He further stated that her name recently came up in conversation with respect to heroin trafficking.

Haught recommended that Long be incapacitated “for the benefit of society,” adding, “This case is an example as to why you don’t bond drug users out of jail.” He added that unfortunately there was a progression of the severity of Long’s crimes “before finally being incarcerated.” Haught stated that Long was “deeply embedded in the drug culture, which is a negative in our society.” He added that Long’s making meth “was very dangerous to the people in the hotel . . . Meth equals death.”

“It’s a very serious offense,” he stated. “Unfortunately, I don’t think she’s done enough . . . not to say I wouldn’t oppose release after maybe a year. We’ve been using drug court with incarceration,” he added.

Attorney Gardner further recommended that his client perhaps serve home incarceration instead of time in prison.

Judge Hummel went to chambers to reflect on his decision for a few moments. Upon his return to the court room, he stated that there are five general reasons for sentencing: retribution, specific deterrents, general deterrents, incapacitation, and rehabilitation.

Stressing the severity of her addiction, Judge Hummel stated that Long had found herself holed up in a hotel room making meth, “making meth for herself . . . putting methamphetamines on your streets . . . This will not and cannot be tolerated. Drug court has a place for her, but not now. She contributed to the drug culture of your community.”

Hummel reiterated that drugs are not prejudiced. “It touches all families. It knows no boundaries.” He noted that he has no known meth manufacturers in drug court right now.

Hummel sentenced Long to no less than two and no more than 10 years in the West Virginia Penitentiary for Women, quipping “Make meth, get the max.”

In another matter, Bryon Keith Pyles, 28, of Route 1 Box 91A, Proctor, pleaded guilty July 15 to receiving stolen goods.

For this offense, Pyles was sentenced to one to 10 years in the West Virginia Penitentiary for Men. This sentence is to be served consecutively with a sentence Pyles received in Marshall County. Therefore, the effective sentence is two to 25 years.

Pyles originally received a three-count indictment from the May 2014 grand jury, charging him with nighttime burglary, grand larceny, and receiving stolen goods. The incidents were alleged to have occurred on or about Feb. 2.