Judge halts plea hearing in Harrison fleeing case

Williams also seemed unsettled about the number of times his defense counsel had contacted him, although he added that he still wanted to go ahead with the plea.

But then Bedell learned that the office of the Harrison County Public Defender, representing Williams, might also have represented a juvenile in the same case. At that point, Bedell said he would appoint Williams new counsel, and the court set a status conference March 24.

Williams’s usual attorney was unable to make it for Friday’s hearing, resulting in Harrison Assistant Defender Jack Clark serving as a last-minute replacement. But comments from Williams during the hearing resulted in Clark realizing he might have had the juvenile as a client. And then Clark approached the bench to relay that information.

Williams is charged with felony fleeing with reckless indifference to the safety of others; felony destruction of property; and misdemeanor obstructing a law enforcement officer.

The agreement between the state and defense called for Williams to enter pleas to the fleeing charge and the obstructing charge, with the state dismissing the destruction-of-property charge.

The state also had agreed to forgo prosecuting Williams as a two-time recidivist.

Harrison Assistant Prosecutor Laura Pickens said following the hearing that the plea offer will remain on the table.

Williams is serving a prison sentence for a Kanawha County armed robbery.

He had been on alternative release in that case after completing the Anthony Correctional Center program for young offenders when he was arrested in Harrison County last July. That resulted in the revocation of his Kanawha County release, Williams told the court.

Williams, with a juvenile passenger, fled recklessly July 17 in a stolen Chevy Equinox after Clarksburg Police Pfc. Aaron Jackson approached them in the parking lot of the West Main Street GoMart, police have alleged.

Speeds reached between 60 and 70 mph in town, and the Equinox backed into Officer Brett Levine’s cruiser as the chase wound down at the dead end at Oak and Grant streets, the criminal complaint alleged.

Williams will be due for a parole hearing March 9 in the Kanawha County case. If he never makes parole, he will discharge the sentence Sept. 9, 2018, he told Bedell.

Also:

— Sabree L. “Bree” and “Breezy” Clevenger, 20, of Salem, has been sentenced to 8 months in federal prison for aiding and abetting distribution of heroin Jan. 13 in Salem.

U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley also imposed 8 months of home detention as part of the defendant’s 3-year term on supervised release.

The Greater Harrison Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force investigated.

— Cody Allen Clevenger, 28, of Clarksburg, has pleaded guilty before Bedell to operating or attempting to operate a clandestine drug lab, according to the office of the Harrison County prosecutor.

The court accepted the plea and set sentencing April 1. Bedell ordered a presentence investigation and a drug and alcohol assessment.

Clevenger operated a “shake and bake” methamphetamine lab in a camper on Fowler Avenue Extension, State Police Cpl. Isaac Harmon has alleged.

The Greater Harrison Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force assisted.

— Arthur K. Glover, 52, of Clarksburg, has pleaded guilty before Bedell to felony failure to comply with the state’s sex offender registry, according to the Harrison County prosecutor’s office.

The judge ordered presentence and home detention suitability investigations.

Glover will be sentenced April 1.

The defendant is required to register for life for his prior conviction of lewd assault on a 5-year-old girl in Palm Beach, Florida, State Police Cpl. Steven Swiger has alleged.

Glover has been convicted thrice previously for failure to register, according to Swiger.

— Michael Lawrence Louk, 45, of Weston, has been charged in Lewis County with felony third-offense driving on a license revoked for DUI and misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine.

Louk possessed the meth Jan. 31 at the 7-Eleven on South Main Street in Weston after driving there unlawfully, Deputy E.E. Carpenter has alleged.

Louk was in Lewis County’s Day Report Center program at the time of the offense, the deputy alleged.

Lewis Magistrate Michael R. Gissy set bond at $15,000 cash and $15,000 through a bail bonding agency.

— Justin Townley, 31, of Clarksburg, has been arrested in Harrison County on a fugitive warrant out of Allegany County, Maryland.

Bill Swiger of Clarksburg Police presented Townley to Harrison Magistrate Tammy Marple, who ordered the defendant held without bond.

Townley is accused of second-degree assault and disorderly conduct in Maryland, according to court papers.