The Honorable Judge Jeffrey Cramer Presides Over Court
The Honorable Judge Jeffrey Cramer recently presided over the following matters in Wetzel County Circuit Court:
Ronald Lanson Wood, 40, of New Martinsville, pleaded guilty to counts four and five of his original indictment, battery and destruction of property. He was represented by Patricia Kurelac. The guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement between the state and the defense. The remaining counts against the defendant were dismissed.
Wood had originally received an eight-count indictment from the grand jury, charging him with burglary, the misdemeanor offense of domestic battery, two counts of the misdemeanor offense of battery, the misdemeanor offense of destruction of property, two counts of strangulation, and the misdemeanor offense of unlawful restraint.
On March 6, Wood told the court that on November 17, 2018 he shoved a person and broke a window. Prosecutor Timothy Haught said the state is satisfied the court has jurisdiction in the matter.
Per the terms of the plea agreement, Judge Cramer sentenced Wood to be confined to the regional jail for a period of one year for the battery charge. He also sentenced Wood to be confined to the regional jail for a period of six months for the destruction of property charge, to be served consecutively for an effective sentence of 18 months. This sentence was suspended, and Wood was placed on 18 months of supervised probation, plus ordered to pay cost of prosecution.
Jenna Kay Erb, 38, of Sistersville, appeared in court with Attorney Patricia Kurelac for a scheduled status hearing to set a jury trial date. The date was set for April 18. There was no objection to bond continuing or pre-trial supervised release. However, Prosecutor Haught requested Erb be supervised. Given the charge, as well as the time it will take to get the matter to trial, Judge Cramer ordered Erb to be supervised by the probation office.
Erb has a three-count indictment against her, charging felony burglary and two misdemeanor counts of destruction of property. The offenses are alleged to have occurred on August 5, 2018 in Wetzel County.
Chelsea Rye, 29, of 22 Cleveland St., Hundred, appeared in court. Prosecutor Haught stated Rye had successfully completed her drug court probationary period in the matter.
Originally the plea agreement called for Rye to withdraw her plea to a felony and enter a plea agreeing to a misdemeanor. However, it was noted the state is inclined to dismiss the indictment, to allow Rye to expunge her record.
Judge Cramer agreed that the indictment may be dismissed.
Rye had previously pleaded guilty to a drug-related offense.
In another matter, Melody Glasscock, 43, appeared in court alongside Attorney Thomas White for a preliminary hearing on a petition to revoke probation. Glasscock admitted to the violation by testing positive for alcohol. The defense requested a 30-day sanction, since it was Glasscock’s first violation of probation.
It was determined Glasscock had been remanded to jail on Feb. 14, so on March 14, she would have served 30 days. However, Glasscock described a personal family matter for which she wanted to be present, so she requested she be out in time for that, on March 13.
Judge Cramer imposed a sanction of 60 days. However, he agreed to release Glasscock to home confinement with a GPS monitor on March 12 for the remainder of the sanction. He also made a specific condition of probation that she is prohibited from entering any establishment where gambling of any form is present.
Glen Anderson, 64, of Reader, appeared in court alongside Attorney Michael Baum for a pre-trial status hearing. A date was set for March 22 for the suppression hearing. The trial was set for April 16. Anderson will remain on bond.
Anderson is charged in an eight-count indictment and a two-count indictment.
The eight-count indictment included the charge of sexual assault in the first degree, two counts of sexual abuse by a custodian, sexual abuse in the first degree, three counts of distribution and display to minor of obscene matter, and enticing minor to photograph sexually explicit conduct. These offenses allegedly occurred between July 15, 2018 and October 1, 2018.
Anderson’s second two-count indictment charges him with sexual abuse in the first degree and sexual abuse by a custodian. Both offenses are to have occurred between July 15, 2018 and October 1, 2018.
Billy Joe Barnette, 45, of 163 Burlington Road, New Martinsville, appeared for a Rule 35, reduction in sentence hearing. Barnette, alongside Attorney Brett Ferro, requested a release from home confinement to parole for the duration of the one to five years he is currently serving which, in this case, would be one year and one-half. The court granted the motion to release Barnette from home confinement and placed him on 18 months of supervised probation.