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Cops and Courts

Justice: No special session on jail staffing until consensus is clear

Some lawmakers again expressed hope for a special session to address the ongoing staffing emergency in West Virginia correctional facilities. But Gov. Jim Justice again said he is not ready to call such a session until consensus on action is clear. “I’m going to stand rock solid with what I’ve told you before,” Justice said during a briefing Wednesday, responding to a question from Charles Young of WV News. going on to describe previous appeals by the administration to address corrections staffing. In those earlier instances, Justice said, “we got shot down. I’ve said ...

Dalton files civil suit against City of Westover

Amidst an ongoing civil service hearing regarding previous Westover Police Lt. Aaron Dalton, a lawsuit against the City of Westover was filed this week by the former officer in Monongalia County Circuit Court. Former Westover Police Chief Rick Panico and Westover Officer Zachary Fecsko were ...

Interim state police superintendent: Changes won’t come overnight

BY MIKE NOLTING The new leader of the state police told state lawmakers Monday better days are ahead for the agency. Interim West Virginia State Police Superintendent Col. Jack Chambers is looking into allegations within the department of theft, rape, misuse of government funds, destroying evidence and violations of privacy. “I’m not going to be able to do it overnight, but I have been working diligently since I’ve been there with help from the department,” Chambers said, who was appointed last month. “We have a lot of good people down there. We have a few we probably ...

Arrests made after three people found in a stolen vehicle

Three people are in custody after police say they were found in possession of a vehicle reported stolen from a Morgantown residence last week.  The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department had been on the lookout for a navy blue 2007 Saturn Aura XR with Ohio registration that had been ...

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 ...