Abraham: Requested information secured at Southern Regional Jail

November 3, 2023

CHARLESTON — Justice administration Chief of Staff Brian Abraham said Thursday he’s hopeful a federal judge will consider evidence about conditions at the Southern Regional Jail is now secure and regular proceedings toward a possible trial can resume. Two state workers who said the documents no longer existed were fired. Abraham said the grievances in connection with conditions at the jail have always been at the jail despite what two now-former state workers told a federal magistrate judge. “All of the documents, such as the electronic grievances, as well as paper ...

Administration again says evidence in federal jails case wasn’t intentionally destroyed

November 2, 2023

CHARLESTON — Gov. Jim Justice said state workers should lose their jobs or even be subject to criminal charges if they were responsible for destroying a range of potential evidence in a federal lawsuit over conditions at the Southern Regional Jail. But administration officials two weeks in a row have said they do not believe the destruction represents intentional acts. A federal magistrate judge wrote this week that it defies logic that lost evidence from email accounts, cell phones, text messages, Criminal Investigation Division reports and other electronic and paper data would ...

Arrest made after early morning altercation on High Street

October 27, 2023

Monongalia County Sheriff's Department officials say deputies are putting together the narrative of events that occurred during an alleged fight on High Street at approximately 4:18 a.m. the morning of Oct. 27. An arrest was made after the altercation was broken up by a deputy who was in the ...

Violent teen fight in Westover ends with injuries, arrest

October 26, 2023

At least one teen is hospitalized, and others were treated for injuries after what is being described as a “melee” between a group of teenagers on Millan Street in Westover at around 1:30 a.m. Thursday. An 18-year-old female is in custody in relation to the fight. Westover Police ...

Preston teacher abuse case moves to circuit court

October 26, 2023

The Preston County teacher accused of child abuse after allegedly using duct tape on a student’s mouth and hands had a preliminary hearing earlier this week in Preston County Magistrate Court.   Court records show probable cause was found in the case of Cassandra “Candi” ...

Morgantown woman accused of sexual assault of 14-year-old

October 26, 2023

A Morgantown woman is facing a third-degree sexual assault charge after she allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl.  The investigation began after the teen’s father alerted the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department that a woman, who he believed to be ...