By Heather Clower
The Parsons Advocate
The Honorable Judge James Courrier presided over the Tucker County Grand Jury where a jury was presented with charges pending on each individual to determine if they would be indicted and move onto the arraignment process.
Those who were indicted included Joseph R. Dowd with one count of failure to register as a sex offender, William E. Shaw III, three counts of counterfeiting, Staci Casstevens, two counts of uttering, James Waybright, one count of failure to register as a sex offender second offense, Darrel G. Spitznogle for one count of sexual assault in the first degree, six counts of sexual abuse in the first degree, Kandice Sponaugle on three counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of uttering, Deanna Waybright for one count of uttering, Melissa Waybright on 149 counts of child abuse resulting in injury and two counts of child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, and Dillon Waybright for 122 counts of child abuse resulting in injury. These individuals will return before the Tucker County Circuit Court for their arraignment.
After the Grand Jury, Judge Courrier was scheduled to oversee criminal case hearings in the afternoon. Charles McCrum, charged with five counts of sexual abuse first degree, five counts sexual assault first degree, and 10 counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, or person of trust moved for a continuance of his trial due to extenuating circumstances. Judge Courrier granted this request and has scheduled McCrum for September 2 and 3.
Jason Adkins was on the docket for his charge of failure to appear when directed to report for incarceration and uttering. Adkins was not transported by the Department of Correction due to COVID-19, but his defense attorney was present. A motion was made to dismiss the charges with Prosecuting Attorney Ray LaMora requesting a trial date to be set. Judge Courrier advised that the defendant would have to be present to set a trial date, therefore Adkins will return on August 7 at 11 a.m. to do so.
Deanna Waybright, charged with uttering, appeared with a motion to be relieved of home confinement obligations. LaMora did not oppose the motion as there have been no issues to date. He did request that Waybright continue check-ins with the Tucker County Day Report as drug use is still an issue. Judge Courrier granted the motion to release Waybright from home confinement with the continuation of drug screenings.
On Monday, June 22, Judge Courrier returned for the arraignment of those indicted as well as handle a few criminal hearings. Spitznogle’s defense attorney requested a bond reduction which would allow Spitznogle to return to Morgantown. This motion was granted and he was released with a GPS monitoring system, set to return on July 8 at 11:30 a.m.
Both Dillon and Melissa Waybright’s bonds will remain where set by the Magistrate and are scheduled to return on July 8, D. Waybright at 11:45 a.m. and M. Waybright at 1:30 p.m. Sponaugle was placed on GPS monitoring and will return July 8 at 9:45 a.m.
Shaw will also return on July 8 at 1:45 p.m. and will continue on bond as set, along with Casstevens at 2:15 p.m. and William Ball Jr. at 2:30 p.m. for a continuance. Returning on August 7 will be Dowd at 11:15 a.m., J. Waybright at 11:45 a.m., and Deanna Waybright at 1:45 p.m.
Taylor Dilley, who plead guilty previously to one count of possession with intent to delivery, appeared for sentencing. LaMora recommended for the one to five year sentence be supplemented with five years of probation with one year served under the Tucker County Day Report for drug screenings and other services they feel necessary. Dilley’s counsel moved for a deferred adjudication, which Judge Courrier felt appropriate in this case. The sentence was then deferred for a period of one year and supervision will be transferred to Keyser.
Josh Swisher, charged with grand larceny, conspiracy, and altering or changing manufacturer numbers, appeared to set a trial date. A pretrial date has been set for August 7 with a one day trial scheduled for August 17.
Lester Mook was the final criminal case on the docket, with charges of receiving, transferring, or concealing stolen property. Mook was present to set a trial date of September 9 at 1:45 p.m. and a two day jury trial set for September 21 and 22.
