Gov. repeats frustration over jails staffing

May 5, 2023

Gov. Jim Justice, who declared a staffing emergency in West Virginia’s corrections system last August, repeated this week a statement suggesting futility in working with legislators to address the problem. “I twice have sent bills up in regard to locality pay for our corrections officers. We didn’t get it done,” Justice said during a broad-ranging briefing. The issue with corrections staffing continues to linger, with a vacancies level at 1,022, according to the most recent update to lawmakers. That’s a 27% vacancy rate for corrections workers across the jails ...

Hazelton corrections officers charged for 2019 inmate assault

May 4, 2023

Two corrections officers from United States Penitentiary Hazleton are facing charges over a March 21, 2019, incident involving the assault of a prisoner.  According to U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld’s office, Robert David Sims, 40, of Bruceton Mills, and Joshua David Sines, 38, of ...

Two sentenced to federal prison for 2020 drug crimes

May 2, 2023

Two men were sentenced in United States District Court this week for selling large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine in the Morgantown area.  Court records show that prior to Monday’s sentencing, Aaric Murray, 33, of Morgantown, and Richard Kirkland Johnson, 26, of Detroit, ...

One jailed, one dead after child reports drug overdose

April 28, 2023

A Morgantown man is being held at North Central Regional Jail after State Police responded to a double overdose report last weekend that was allegedly called in by a 7-year-old child.  According to the criminal complaint filed by Senior Trooper V.L. Marra, once on scene troopers found ...

Intermediate Court of Appeals hears Challenge Academy case

April 27, 2023

CHARLESTON — A former candidate at the Mountaineer Challenge Academy is trying to get a jury trial on claims that he was not properly cared for during his short time at the Kingwood-based academy, which is operated by the West Virginia National Guard. The case was argued before the state’s Intermediate Court of Appeals Wednesday. The plaintiffs are appealing a lower court ruling that found in favor of the academy on summary judgment, saying it had immunity from the lawsuit because the claims were not proven. Logan County resident Jason Ryan Moorhead went to the Mountaineer ...

Morgantown reports spike in overdoses

April 26, 2023

BY MIKE NOLTING Morgantown officials report a spike in overdoses and two suspected deaths associated with the surge. On Friday night, five overdoses were reported, including two suspected deaths. U.S. Attorney Bill Ihlenfeld has reported that fentanyl is now being found in up to 90% of other drugs confiscated during law enforcement operations. Health experts recommend people who use should carry Narcan, use test strips to measure fentanyl in the supply, avoid using drugs alone and notify 911 as soon as an overdose is suspected. DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said fentanyl ...