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Cops and Courts

Pittsburgh double-murder suspect shoots himself following traffic stop in Kanawha County

CHARLESTON — A suspect in a Pittsburgh double-murder case died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Kanawha County Monday morning. Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Joe Crawford said authorities learned at around 6 a.m. that Dennis Rahuba, 50, was driving toward Kanawha County. At just before 7 a.m. a Kanawha County deputy, J.A. Morris, spotted the vehicle going south on I-79 at Big Chimney. “When the information was given out, our units went to the interstate area to look for the vehicle, which is common, that happens fairly frequently,” Crawford ...

Body found in river ID’ed by sheriff ’s department

Monongalia County Sheriff ’s Department has identified a body found in the Monongahela River last month as that of James R. Weaver, 48, of Arthurdale. Weaver had been reported missing on Feb. 14 from Westover. His body was found on March 27. Weaver ’s sister, Sherry Neyman, told The Dominion Post on Feb. 23 that he had left his mother’s houseon Jan. 13. He did not take his medication with him, Neyman said, which led family to believe he wouldbe back the next day. One friend said Weaver had stopped by his house for a shower and change of clothes, and anotherfriend ...

Efforts continue to correct financial errors in Preston

KINGWOOD — Work continues on financial statements for the Preston County Sheriff’s Department. Melissa Hardy, a CPA working with the department, told Preston County Commission this week that both she and Sheriff Paul Pritt are working to straighten out a mistake. Earlier, Pritt discussed a faulty system that will not allow his office to generate monthly financial reports. He said when the tax deputies input data into the system, it reads that data incorrectly and prints out inaccurate reports. He said the system is one he inherited when he took office. “We’re trying to ...

Dunbar sitter sentenced in toddler’s death

BY CARRIE HODOUSEK CHARLESTON — A Kanawha County mother says her whole family got “ripped apart” after the death of her 2-year-old son. The boy’s babysitter is now heading to prison. “I trusted somebody with his life, and I will forever regret that decision,” Caleigh Cheeks testified during a Monday sentencing hearing in Kanawha County Circuit Court. Brittany Napier, 32, of Dunbar, was sentenced to the maximum prison time of one year for involuntary manslaughter and 1-5 years for child neglect resulting in death. Napier pleaded guilty to the charges in February, ...

Hearing over auction of Greenbrier Sporting Club could be paused

A court hearing over a proposed forced auction of The Greenbrier Sporting Club could be held off while all sides engage in talks. Weeks ago, Carter Bank & Trust filed public notice to auction the Greenbrier Sporting Club on the courthouse steps to satisfy a multi-million dollar debt from Gov. Jim Justice and his family. Attorneys for the Justice companies, in turn, asked the local court system to block the sale. A hearing in the matter had been set for 9 a.m. April 12 before Greenbrier Circuit Judge Robert Richardson. Now that could be bumped. Lawyers for Carter Bank ...

Former cop charged with impersonating an officer

A former West Virginia University police officer is facing misdemeanor charges after allegedly claiming to still be with the department before leaving the scene of an accident.  According to court records, on March 28, West Virginia State Trooper T.J. Roach was contacted by a ...