Feds hit imprisoned Morgantown landlord with Fair Housing Act lawsuit

That included the following, according to the lawsuit: Unwelcome sex acts; unwanted groping; offering housing benefits in exchange for sex acts on him or his workers; entering female tenants’ apartments without notice to sexually harass them; and threatening to “take adverse action” against female tenants who refused or objected to his actions.

Walden’s wife, Tina, who died Dec. 24, 2014, received complaints from tenants about sexual harassment but failed to act to stop it, the lawsuit contends. She also took “adverse housing actions,” or threatened to do so, “in retaliation for discrimination complaints,” the lawsuit asserts.

The lawsuit seeks to stop any of Walden’s companies from violating the Fair Housing Act in the future. The filing also seeks “monetary damages to each identifiable victim of these discriminatory practices,” as well as “civil penalties against Defendants in order to vindicate the public interest.”

U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley in Clarksburg has been assigned the case. The government’s attorneys are Charla Jackson and Megan Whyte De Vasquez of the Department of Justice in Washington and Assistant U.S. Attorney Helen Campbell Altmeyer in Wheeling.

Walden’s wrongdoing occurred “since at least 2006 through July 2015,” when he was incarcerated, the lawsuit contends.

Walden was convicted last May in Monongalia County of two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of conspiracy and one count of burglary. He is serving 2-10 years in state prison, to be followed by home detention and probation.

Walden, Inmate 3494484 at Huttonsville Correctional Center, won’t be eligible for parole until July 23, 2017.

Walden, 65, and his wife owned and/or managed several rental properties on Dunkard Street, Monongalia Avenue, Monongahela Avenue, Ohio Avenue, West Park Avenue, Eric Street and Wilson Street, all in Westover, according to the lawsuit.

Also:

— Raymond Lyle Bell, 56, of Fairmont, waived his probable cause hearing Wednesday before Harrison County Chief Magistrate Frank DeMarco on state felony charges alleging animal cruelty and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The waiver sends those counts to Harrison County Circuit Court. In return for not requiring a hearing, Bell and his lawyer, Harrison Chief Defender Perry Jones, will receive pre-indictment discovery from Harrison Assistant Prosecutor James Armstrong.

On March 5, after running a Chevy pickup into a ditch while driving without a license, Bell shot a .22-caliber handgun at his dog, State Police Senior Trooper Roger Glaspell has alleged.

Bell tried to walk away from Glaspell, and when the trooper tried to stop him, the defendant said he wanted to die “and was going to murder (Glaspell),” the complaint alleges.

When Glaspell told Bell to calm down and remain still, Bell replied that he was “going to force (Glaspell) to kill him, and lowered his shoulder in attempt to strike (Glaspell),” the complaint alleges.

Bell isn’t allowed to possess firearms because he is a convicted felon, Glaspell has alleged.

Earlier this century, Bell was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Keeley for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Bell then was on supervised release for 3 years, until Feb. 21, 2013, but had to spend another 6 months in prison during that time for a revocation, according to court records.

— Suhip E. Ebrahim, 26, of Bridgeport, and Ronnell A. Williams, 41, of Wheeling, have been indicted federally, according to the office of U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld II.

Ebrahim is facing one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and one count of possession with intent to distribute the drug. Williams is facing the conspiracy count, plus three counts of distribution of oxycodone.

Law enforcement officers have seized more than $900,000 in connection with their investigation of Ebrahim.

The Ohio Valley, Marshall County and Greater Harrison drug and violent crimes task forces are investigating.

Grand jurors meeting in Martinsburg returned the indictment. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert H. McWilliams Jr. and Jarod Douglas will prosecute.

— Emmitt Renand “Jimmy Cool” Richardson, 43, of Detroit, has pleaded guilty in Harrison County to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and oxycodone and one count of transportation of heroin and oxycodone into the state.

Harrison Chief Judge Thomas A. Bedell accepted the pleas and set sentencing May 2, according to Harrison Assistant Prosecutor Traci Cook.

Cook and defense attorney George Cosenza will argue sentencing. Richardson could face 2-30 years in prison and fines of up to $50,000.

The Harrison County Street Crimes and Drug unit investigated.

— A 26-year-old who was placed on 3 years’ probation Dec. 7 for two counts of attempting to distribute obscene matter to a minor now stands accused of felony failing to comply with the state sex offender registry law.

Ian Dean Schiavo, formerly of Mars, Pennsylvania, and now of Clarksburg, didn’t promptly register. That was despite being instructed to do so by Harrison County Probation Officer Eric Spatafore, according to State Police Cpl. Ed Boyle.

Schiavo is required to remain on the registry for 10 years because of the convictions for attempting to distribute obscene matter to a minor.

Harrison Magistrate Tammy Marple set bond at $10,000.

— Brittany May Horner, 24, of Clarksburg, has pleaded guilty before Bedell to forgery and delivery of heroin, according to Assistant Prosecutor Armstrong.

Horner will be sentenced at a later date.

State Police investigated the drug charge.

— Roger Ely Cline, 30, of Salem, has been charged by Harrison Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Harris with felony grand larceny.

On Sept. 12, 2014, Cline, while taking care of a couple’s home when they were away, stole a Husqvarna chainsaw and collectible coins worth more than $2,000, Harris has alleged.

Marple set a $25,000 cash bond. Harrison Magistrate Keith Marple has scheduled a probable cause hearing for Tuesday.

— David Allen Sayers, 50, of Clarksburg, has been charged with felony third-offense driving on a license suspended or revoked for driving under the influence.

State Police Sgt. Robert Talkington, who knows Sayers isn’t allowed to drive, witnessed the defendant get into a Ford F150 and drive it away from the Shinnston GoMart, according to the criminal complaint.

Talkington pulled over the truck outside the Shinnston Subway, at which point Sayers “confirmed he knew he was revoked for DUI and had been trying to get into a DUI class,” the complaint alleges.

Magistrate Tammy Marple set bond at $12,500.

— Brent Wayne Englund, 31, of Salem, has waived his probable cause hearing before DeMarco.

Englund is charged with forgery or uttering or other writing. The defendant passed a stolen check for nearly $4,200 Jan. 26 at a Clarksburg bank, Harrison Deputy Josh Cumberledge has alleged.