By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
Tammy Mook appeared in Court November 15th with her attorney Brent Easton to be sentenced in a three year long case involving stolen goods. Mook had plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of Receiving and Transferring Stolen Goods as part of a plea agreement that dismissed the felony charges against her.
Late in the sentencing hearing, Mook experienced a medical emergency and emergency services were contacted for assistance.
The WV State Police were the first to respond to the dispatch. Tucker County EMS Director Amanda Simmons arrived soon after. Simmons assessed Mook and attempted to keep her comfortable as she reassured both Mook and her daughter until the EMS crew arrived.
Previously in the proceedings, the issue of Mook’s health issues had been addressed with the defense calling Mook’s daughter to the stand to testify to her mother’s various health issues. Mook’s daughter testified that she transports and attends appointments with several doctors in both Garrett County and The Cleveland Clinic, as well as listed a number of conditions and procedures her mother had endured.
The prosecution did not cross examine the witness, but did bring up the various requests that both she and the court had made for documentation of Mook’s health status. According to Wilkins, there had been no documentation presented. Mook’s attorney Brent Easton disputed the statement that no documentation had been submitted regarding Mook’s health conditions. According to Easton, Mook’s documentation and repeated inpatient care led to several continuances during the case proceeded by the now retired Judge Nelson.
Also presented at the proceedings Wilkins had shown a video from recent charges in Randolph County involving theft at a Dollar General in Harman. The video evidence was from a June 28 incident. Mook was charged with Petty Larceny in the incident.
In the video, Mook was seen in sunglasses, a wig and hat with a cart with several items. The video also showed Mook examining items and then concealing several of the items, as well as removing items from packaging and then placing the empty packaging on shelves. “You will see her put those in her pocket,” Wilkins said. “She just placed the packaging back onto the shelf there.”
The Harman incident involved a long list of items totaling $71.39. “That’s the mascara on the list. She opens up the mascara and then that item goes into her pocket,” Wilkins said. “This is just two months before she came in to plea on this case.”
Wilkins pointed out that Mook appeared relatively well in the video evidence. “She seems to be perfectly mobile. She is well enough to disguise herself in a hat, sunglasses and wig to go out and steal items.”
During the proceedings, Wilkins asked the court for a year in jail, the maximum for the misdemeanor charge Mook plead guilty to. According to Wilkins, Mook is currently on probation from a case presided by Judge Nelson. Wilkins said Mook was sentenced to three years probation in May of 2022. “She’s on probation,” Wilkins said. “Obviously it didn’t stick. She has money to pay for these items. I don’t know whys she does it. I don’t know if it’s the thrill.” There was some discussion that perhaps a mental health evaluation was warranted due to the repeated behavior according to Wilkins.
Easton requested that the court consider an alternative sentence for his client due to her health and the nature of the charges. “This is the type of case that should receive an alternative sentence.”
According to Easton, his client has been targeted several times in very similar cases. Easton said that in each instance, the evidence pointed to others’ guilt more strongly, but it was his client that was prosecuted. Easton described the charges as “barely prosecutable.” “There was a second person involved that was equally culpable,” Easton said. “But it is Miss Mook that the State went after.”
Wilkins disputed the allegation and informed Easton and the Court that charges were brought against others in another case, but were later dropped. The case in question, according to Wilkins, was prior to when she became Prosecuting Attorney. Wilkins said. “It is out of my hands.” According to Easton, the others involved did testify as witnesses in the previous case.
Due to the emergency, Mook was not sentenced by the court. Mook was transported to the hospital by EMS. There is no word on her condition.