PARSONS – A Hambleton man pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of battery Monday in Tucker County Circuit Court. David A. Howell, 38, of 124 Long St, appeared with his attorney Frank Bush before Tucker County Circuit Judge Lynn Nelson, who accepted Howell’s plea.
Howell’s original trial was scheduled for last Thursday and Friday. He was indicted in February on two counts of sexual abuse in the first degree.
Nelson sentenced Howell to 12 months in the regional jail, but suspended the sentence and placed Howell on probation for five years, ordering him to complete the Community Corrections program.
“If you successfully complete the Community Corrections program, you can get off probation in one year,” Nelson said.
Also in Tucker County Circuit Court Monday:
Jessica Poe, 24, of Hambleton appeared with her attorney, Megan Allender. Poe was charged with alleged probation violations.
Tucker County Prosecuting Attorney Ray LaMora made a recommendation that Poe be placed on home confinement.
“Her attorney has been working diligently to get her into some long term treatment, which is exactly what Ms. Poe needs,” LaMora said. “We are recommending she be drug screened every day while on home confinement, until she is able to go into a treatment center.”
Nelson told Poe she had a lot of living to do.
“I know it’s tough,” Nelson said. “There is a lot more good out there than bad. I wish you luck.”
Katie Lynn Worles, 25, pleaded guilty to child neglect creating risk of injury, a misdemeanor.
Nelson sentenced Worles to six months jail, but suspended the sentence, ordering her to attend six months of community corrections and to complete a parenting class through the community correction.
Worles was originally arrested May 23 after a West Virginia State Police officer found her 3-year-old son unclothed and pedaling a bicycle on Central Avenue in Parsons, approximately 75 yards from Route 219. The officer noted on the original criminal complaint the temperature that evening in Parsons was approximately 55 degrees.
