West Virginia Supreme Court upholds sentence in Preston robbery/murder

The armed robbery sentence was under attack by Quinn and his lawyers, Michael Safcsak and John Rogers. But Deputy Attorney General Andrea Nease Proper, for Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, successfully argued the sentence was reasonable.

“Considering [victim Philip ‘Buckie’ Barlow] was ambushed, forcibly abducted, robbed, slaughtered for $50 — all while he fought for his life, and his body discarded; evaluating the petitioner’s prior criminal history, which includes two grand larceny convictions, a conviction for second-degree robbery in Maryland, conviction for violation of a protective order, and a shoplifting conviction; and contemplating the harm and loss to the Barlow family, we cannot conclude that the circuit court’s sentence for first-degree robbery shocks the conscience,” the justices wrote.

Barlow, 61, of Tunnelton, was slain in 2019 in a remote area of Preston County, weeks away from retiring from his job as a truck driver, by neighbors Quinn, who was 45 at the time, and Laura Lynn Martin, 38 at the time.

Their motive: They said they needed money for a utility bill.

Martin also received a sentence of life with parole, plus 180 years for the robbery.

Also:

— Renee Elaine Davidson, 53, of Lost Creek, has been charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver and one count of drug conspiracy by Trooper A.N. Alton.

Alton on Wednesday seized a large amount of methamphetamine, acetaminophen and hydrocodone bitartrate medicine doses, according to the complaint. The trooper also seized baggies, scales and suspected drug ledgers.

Davidson admitted selling meth for $40 per gram, taking cash and Cash App payments, according to Alton.

Davidson said she conspired with a relative, and they used the money they made to support their drug habits, according to Alton.

Magistrate Mike Weiss set a $50,000 10/90, property or surety bond.

— Timothy Chad Henson, 35, of Morgantown, has been accused of defrauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Henson, the owner of Clearfiber Inc., sent false invoices to the federal agency and got more than $340,000, according to the Office of U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld.

Henson then converted 95% of that for personal use, the government alleges.

Henson had applied for funding to offer high-speed internet to rural areas of Monongalia and Marion counties, according to the government.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner lodged the money laundering charge against Henson after IRS Criminal Investigations investigated.

Henson was charged by an information and is scheduled for a first appearance May 29. He is presumed innocent.

— Aaron Lynn Swiger, 31, of Bridgeport, has agreed to continue working with court-appointed counsel Susan Morris despite previously having qualms about whether they could work together.

That came after Morris and Swiger met recently, following a prior court hearing. During Thursday’s status conference, Morris, Harrison County defender, told Judge James A. Matish she will meet with Swiger again next week at the jail to continue working on Swiger’s case.

Swiger is facing 10 sex-related counts. He has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent.