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Cops and Courts

Martinsburg woman admits to trafficking a teenager to Fla. man

MARTINSBURG — A Martinsburg, West Virginia woman has admitted to trafficking a teenager to a Florida man. Destiny Rebecca Somersall, age 41, pled guilty today to one count of sex trafficking of a child. Somersall sent photographs and videos of the minor to 75-year-old John Balch for cash and gifts. One of the videos included a second victim. Somersall later drove the teen to a hotel in Maryland for sexual contact with Balch for money on multiple occasions. Investigators found at least 60 cash transactions between Balch and Somersall over a period of two years totaling ...

Staffing emergency for jails continues

CHARLESTON — West Virginia’s corrections commissioner said a state of emergency for the jails system first declared last August will need to continue. And lawmakers on a committee overseeing the jails system say they’re still working toward recruitment and retention of jail employees, hoping that a special session could help. “We welcome the possibility of a special session to, hopefully, address some of the pay needs for the division,” said William Marshall, commissioner of the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation during a Sunday afternoon interim committee ...

Arrest made after downtown carjacking

A Morgantown man is facing first-degree robbery charges after police were called to a carjacking made at gunpoint Sunday in downtown Morgantown.  According to the criminal complaint, Morgantown Police responded to the scene in front of 233 Walnut Street — in the area near Liquid Lounge ...

Waynesburg man arrested after burglary, bond violation

A Waynesburg, P.,a man was arrested on burglary charges after allegedly breaking into a home on Mason Dixon Highway Wednesday morning and threatening to shoot the resident.   According to the criminal complaint, Monongalia County Deputy Erin Kohler was dispatched to the residence for a ...

Two arrested after drugs seized in Westover

Two individuals are facing drug charges after a vehicle search early Wednesday morning in Westover resulted in the seizure of fentanyl and methamphetamine.  While conducting a patrol of the 400 block of Dunkard Avenue in Westover, Patrolman A. Cather reported observing several ...

Attorney General announces $7.9M settlement with Juul

CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey Monday announced his office has settled a lawsuit with Juul for a total of $7.9 million. That’s in addition to a plethora of stipulations, most in connection with how Juul — under the company name Juul Labs Inc. — advertises and markets its products in West Virginia. The company was accused of “engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the manufacturing, designing, selling, marketing, promoting and distributing of e-cigarettes” in the state, especially promotions targeting underage users. In legal ...