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Threats lead to felony charge in Randolph County

Cindy Bernice Stalnaker

ELKINS — A Randolph County woman is behind bars after calling an area mental health facility and threatening violence.

Cindy Bernice Stalnaker, 47, of Elkins, is charged with one felony count of threats of terrorist acts. She is housed at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond set by Randolph County Magistrate George M. “Mike” Riggleman.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, on Tuesday, Senior Deputy M.P. Dyer, of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, received a call from Randolph County 911 Communications regarding threats being made to Appalachian Community Health Center in Elkins.

Dyer spoke with the alleged victim who said she received a call from Stalnaker, who told her she was going to “put a bullet in her (Stalnaker’s) brain,” due to an inability to sleep because her anxiety was increasing.

She also told the alleged victim that she had firearms in her house and was going to “come down there and fire on you,” and “that she should open fire on people,” the complaint states.

Dyer and Chief Deputy B.T. Sharp, also of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, traveled to Stalnaker’s residence.

After being told why they were there, Stalnaker told them she was “just mad” and apologized for making the statements.

Dyer then placed her under arrest and transported her to the Randolph County Magistrate Court to await arraignment.

Other arrests recorded in Randolph County:

• Edwin Mack Taylor, 49, of Elkins, is charged with one felony count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He is housed at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, on Sept. 16, Trooper S.W. Shahan, of the West Virginia State Police, received a call from Randolph County 911 Communications to assist Elkins Police Department.

Once he arrived at the scene, he made contact with EPD officers who had Taylor detained. Officers told Shahan that Taylor was a convicted felon and had a firearm on his person.

911 Communications told Shahan that Taylor had one previous conviction for prohibited person with firearm on March 3, according to the complaint.

A preliminary hearing in this case has been set for 3 p.m. today in Randolph County Magistrate Court.

If convicted, Taylor could be sentenced to the state penitentiary for not more than three years, fined not more than $5,000, or both.

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