TUCKER COUNTY MAGISTRATE COURT
PARSONS – A Parsons man remains in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail following his preliminary hearing Wednesday before Tucker County Magistrate Riley Barb. David Joseph Crouch, 36, appeared in Magistrate Court for a contested preliminary hearing with defense counsel William Tyler “Ty” Nestor.
After hearing testimony, Barb found probable cause and the case was bound over for presentation to a Tucker County Grand Jury. Crouch is charges with one felony count of distribution of marijuana.
Nestor asked Barb for a modification of the cash only bond which was opposed by Ray LaMora III, representing the state. Barb ordered that Crouch’s bond remain at $15,000 cash only.
TUCKER COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
PARSONS – On Thursday, William G. Murphy, 53, appeared in Tucker County Circuit Court before Tucker County Circuit Judge James W. Courrier Jr. Murphy was indicted by a Tucker County Grand Jury of one felony count of malicious assault.
Murphy’s defense counsel Brent Easton and Tucker County Prosecuting Attorney Ray LaMora III agreed they are working on a pretrial resolution of the case and are pretty close to completing that. LaMora said he submitted a plea offer Wednesday evening, but he and Easton agreed there was not enough time for Murphy to read the agreement before Thursday’s hearing.
Courrier scheduled Murphy to return to court at 11 a.m. Feb. 9 to decide if he would accept the plea agreement or to schedule a date for a jury trial.
Aaron Todd Wolfe, 36, appeared in Tucker County Circuit Court Thursday with his defense counsel Brent Easton. Easton filed a motion to dismiss both of Wolfe’s charges – one count of grand larceny and one count of receiving or transferring stolen goods.
Easton argued that LaMora could not meet the burden of proof on both charges.
Courrier listened to Easton and LaMora’s arguments and dismissed the second charge of receiving or transferring stolen goods. He instructed LaMora to check with a Kelley Blue Book and the Tucker County Assessor’s Office, as well as the owner of the vehicle to try to come up with a good market value for the vehicle at the time of the alleged incident.
Courrier set the next hearing, which will either be another status hearing, or a hearing to set a jury trial date for 1:15 p.m. Feb. 9.
