By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
Donald Davis accepted a plea deal June 9th during Judge Shaffer’s session of 22nd Circuit Court at the Tucker County Courthouse in Parsons. The 26 year old plead guilty to fleeing by vehicle, a lesser included misdemeanor charge. Judge Shaffer accepted the guilty plea and sentenced Davis in Court. Davis was sentenced to 1 year in jail to be served as probation and a $500 fine. In total. Davis will serve two years of probation under Shaffer’s order.
“I think there needs to be some form of consequence for fleeing from the police,” Judge Shaffer stated during sentencing.
The offense comes with a mandatory fine of $500 to $1,000 and a year in jail. Davis appeared in court along with his attorney Sam Hess. Savannah Hull Wilkins represented the prosecution.
Davis informed the Court that he understood all his rights and what rights he was waiving by accepting a plea deal and pleading guilty. He also said that he was satisfied with Hess’ representation throughout the duration of his case. A verbal and signed, written plea were entered to the Court.
Wilkins said Davis had no priors, other than a couple of traffic tickets that the State Patrolman involved in the case had issued prior to the case. She expressed sympathy for what she termed a “young offender” when explaining to the Court why she extended a plea deal in the case.
“I didn’t want to slap a young person with a felony right out of the gate,” Wilkins said.
Hess when asked if he recommended that his client take a plea agreement, said that he had, adding, “This is his best day in court.”
On October 11, 2025, near Highways 32 and 48, a sports bike with no registration plate was spotted by Trooper Short of the West Virginia State Police, Wilkins stated to the Court. Short recognized the bike because he had ticketed the bike and rider previously. A stop was attempted on Spruce Street in Thomas, but the rider fled, leading to a chase that reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour. Trooper Short stopped chase in Grant County out of safety after identifying the rider from the previous stops and contacts. Davis was later apprehended. When asked by the Court if it was him on the bike, Davis admitted that it was.
Davis was given the opportunity to speak after sentencing. Davis acknowledged that he endangered himself and public and expressed remorse for his actions that day.
“I am aware that it was a really dumb decision and I endangered my life as well as many others,” Davis said. “It is not like me to do something like that and I am very sorry.”
Judge Shaffer told Davis, “You dodged a bullet.” He explained to the young man that felonies make getting employment far harder and that he had a lenient prosecutor and a good attorney backing him, that doesn’t always happen.
“Ms. Wilkins cut you a break, you had a good attorney,” Judge Shaffer said. “You need to understand that.”
