Clarksburg man sent to Anthony in home entry case; awaits sentencing for child abuse/neglect

The defendant is to be sentenced Friday by Harrison Circuit Judge James A. Matish in the abuse/neglect case.

Bedell acknowledged that Matish and he had consulted prior to Monday’s sentencing hearing. Bedell also told Hurst that Matish is free to do what he wants in the other case.

Hurst could face 2-8 years in prison Friday for his pleas to felony child abuse and felony child neglect. He previously took the blame for beating a 3-year-old boy on the back with a belt and for a second-degree burn the child suffered to his foot from scalding bath water.

The defendant also had indicated in his plea, however, that codefendant Cheyanna M. Alderman was responsible for just as much or more in what happened to the child in September 2014.

Hurst already has spent more than a year in jail pending prosecution, a fact noted by defense attorney Ben Davisson in seeking probation or Anthony for the unlawful entry.

Assistant Prosecutor Andrea Roberts asked the court to sentence Hurst to 1-10 years in prison for the unlawful entry. Roberts noted that the crime has had a profoundly negative impact on the 67-year-old victim, who has nailed her windows shut.

Hurst apologized for his actions, which was a plus with Bedell. The court also noted Hurst obtained a high school equivalency diploma in jail.

But Bedell also noted how the crime has impacted the victim.

Hurst will remain in jail until a space comes open at Anthony. Then, it will be up to him how quickly he completes the program (it takes at least 6 months, while the maximum a defendant can stay there is 2 years).

If Hurst gets booted from Anthony, the defendant and Davisson will have a hard time trying to argue for an alternative, Bedell said. If the defendant successfully completes Anthony, he will be placed on probation.

Alderman, 20, of Weston, was ordered to the Anthony Correctional Center last month by Matish for two counts of felony child neglect resulting in injury.

Alderman had admitted allowing Hurst around her child even though she said she knew he had been abusing the boy.

Clarksburg Detective Paul Graeber investigated the child abuse/neglect case. State Police Cpl. Joe Bush investigated the unlawful entry case.

Also:

— A 28-year-old Salem woman accused of wrecking while under the influence of subutex and Klonopin, and with two juveniles as passengers, has been jailed on two counts of felony child neglect creating risk of injury.

Clarksburg Patrol Officer Laura Keplinger arrested Katana Lea Maxwell, who was held on $100,000 bond set by Harrison Magistrate Tammy Marple.

Maxwell crashed a Nissan Frontier Saturday into the rear end of another vehicle near the Clarksburg Sunoco, Keplinger alleged.

The juveniles weren’t injured, but were frightened, Keplinger alleged.

Maxwell’s performance in field sobriety testing “indicated impairment,” Keplinger alleged, and the defendant “had no recollection of the events leading up to (the wreck) nor details of the crash.”

The defendant admitted taking subutex pills and also the Klonopin, Keplinger alleged. Maxwell also “had noticeable residue in her nostrils,” the officer alleged.

The juveniles in the vehicle were Maxwell’s 8-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old female who’s a friend’s child, Keplinger alleged.

— Wilma Marie Norris, 42, of Anmoore, has been charged with felony child abuse resulting in injury by Senior Trooper Roger Glaspell.

Norris is accused of whipping a child with a belt, causing bruises from the child’s behind to her knee, according to the criminal complaint.

The accuser said she was whipped with the belt “for losing her glasses,” Glaspell alleged.

Norris told law enforcement she had spanked the child with her hand, and “admitted it was possible that she caused the bruises because she smacks hard.”

Bond was set at $50,000 by Marple.