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Inmate sentenced in stabbing incident

Tre Michael Plaugher

ELKINS — A Tygart Valley Regional Jail inmate from Barbour County who took another inmate hostage and stabbed him with a sharpened object was sentenced Thursday in Randolph County Circuit Court.

Tre Michael Plaugher, 22, of Philippi, was sentenced to one to five years in the state penitentiary. The sentence was ordered to run consecutively to a one- to five-year sentence he is currently serving out of Barbour County.

Plaugher pleaded guilty to one felony count of unlawful assault, a lesser included offense of the original charge of one felony count of malicious assault, as part of a plea agreement, during a Jan. 3 hearing.

The prosecution dismissed two felony counts of offense committed by inmate.

Prior to the sentence being handed down, Plaugher apologized and asked for the sentences run concurrently, noting that he has additional pending cases both federally and in Pocahontas County.

“I’d just like to say sorry for what I did,” Plaugher said. “I’d like to get the charges run concurrent to my others. I’m going to have a minimum of five years to do for the feds and I’m already sentenced to a one to five in Barbour County so at the least I’m going to do six years.”

As negotiated in the plea agreement, the state remained silent during the hearing.

Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Parker represented the state while Plaugher appeared with Timothy Prentice as defense counsel. Circuit Judge David Wilmoth presided.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, at approximately 11:19 p.m. on May 25, Cpl. D.R. Wolford Jr., of the West Virginia State Police, was notified of an altercation involving two inmates at TVRJ.

Upon arrival, Wolford was informed the situation was “de-escalated,” and Plaugher had been secured and placed on security watch while the victim was transported to Davis Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, court documents state.

TVRJ Cpl. Chris Wymer reportedly told Wolford he was serving as a “core rover” that day and, at approximately 9:52 p.m., responded to “A Pod, Section 3, Cell 8,” due to an overflowing toilet.

While en route, Wymer was told by an inmate, “You need to check Cell 8,” the complaint states. Once there, Wymer saw Plaugher sitting on the bunk with an “object in his hand that had a point on the end” and holding down the victim with his left hand.

Wymer attempted to calm Plaugher down and initiated a lockdown of the pod. Wymer contacted Sgt. Calen Ketterman, who was able to negotiate with Plaugher and restrain him, according to the complaint.

In a signed written statement, Ketterman said at approximately 10 p.m., he responded to Plaugher’s cell and witnessed him holding a “sharpened item.”

Ketterman inquired what the motive was for the incident and Plaugher said he “discovered his significant other was romantically involved with someone else, and he couldn’t bear the thought of his children calling someone else daddy,” according to the complaint. Ketterman also said Plaugher was visibly shaking and appeared to be convulsing.

Plaugher told Ketterman he had stabbed the victim but Ketterman did not see any blood. Plaugher also said he “purposely flooded his cell” to elicit a response from correctional officers, the complaint stated.

According to the complaint, Plaugher demanded a cigarette in exchange for the weapon and the victim, and then Ketterman was able to calm him down and convince him to surrender.

Wolford observed what appeared to be a coffee cup lodged into the toilet of the cell. He also secured a “white in color, improvised weapon or ‘shank,’ made from what appears to be a toothbrush.” The weapon had a dark cloth handle and had been ground down to a sharpened point on one end, court documents state.

Wolford then traveled to DMC and obtained a statement from the victim. He said he “locked down” with Plaugher “for meds (sic) in order to play cards together.” The victim said when he crouched down to deal the cards, Plaugher made a cup of coffee and proceeded to flood his toilet before striking him in the face and stabbing him in the right shoulder. He said Plaugher held him hostage on the floor until officers arrived to the cell, the complaint states.

Wolford obtained a 17-page medical record for the victim that indicate he had a “0.6 cm linear puncture laceration to his right shoulder which required one stitch,” according to court documents.

Also in Randolph County Circuit Court:

• Richard Emery Delphey, 44, of Beverly, was sentenced to one to five years in the state penitentiary, suspended for 30 days in jail. After his release, he will be placed on five years of supervised probation.

Additionally, he must successfully complete the North Central Community Corrections program, remain employed and pay restitution in the amount of $449.

Delphey pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy, as part of a plea agreement, during a Dec. 5 hearing.

The prosecution dismissed one felony count of third-offense shoplifting.

Parker represented the state while Delphey appeared with Brian Bailey as defense counsel. Wilmoth presided.

• Joshua Lee Thornhill, 28, of Elkins, was sentenced to one to 10 years in the state penitentiary. The sentence was suspended for five years of supervised probation.

Additionally, he must successfully complete the Tucker County Community Corrections program and remain employed.

Thornhill pleaded guilty to one felony count of grand larceny, as part of a plea agreement, during a Jan. 3 hearing.

The prosecution dismissed one felony count of breaking and entering, one felony count of transferring stolen goods and one felony count of conspiracy.

Parker represented the state while Thornhill appeared with Eric Hensil as defense counsel. Wilmoth presided.

• Christian Matthew Lloyd, 25, of Elkins, was sentenced to two years of supervised probation after successfully completing the program at the Anthony Correctional Center in White Sulphur Springs.

He was sentenced to the Anthony Center in December 2015 after being convicted on a felony third-offense shoplifting charge.

Parker represented the state while Lloyd appeared with Jeremy Cooper as defense counsel. Wilmoth presided.

• Christopher Daniel Bennett, 32, of Belington, pleaded guilty to one felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, as part of a plea agreement.

The prosecution dismissed one felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one misdemeanor count of driving while license suspended, second offense.

The prosecution also reserves the right to make a sentencing recommendation at the sentencing hearing, slated for 9 a.m. on June 19.

Randolph County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Richard Shryock represented the state while Bennett appeared with Prentice as defense counsel. Wilmoth presided.

• Timothy Ray Shuman, 68, of Elkins, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one felony count of attempted grand larceny, as part of a plea agreement. He waived indictment at that time.

The prosecution dismissed one felony count of burglary, one felony count of grand larceny and one misdemeanor count of fleeing from an officer by any means other than the use of a vehicle.

Additionally, the state agreed not to oppose an alternative sentence during the sentencing hearing, slated for 10:30 a.m. on July 6.

Shryock represented the state while Shuman appeared with Steve Nanners as defense counsel. Wilmoth presided.

• A capias warrant was issued for Christy Michelle Currence, 37, of Elkins, after she failed to appear for a probation revocation hearing.

Currence was sentenced to one to five years in the state penitentiary, during a Feb. 6 hearing. That sentence was suspended for five years of supervised probation. Additionally, she must successfully complete the North Central Community Corrections program.

She pleaded guilty to an information charging her with one felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, as part of a plea agreement on Dec. 5. She waived indictment at that time.

The state agreed to dismiss one misdemeanor count of child neglect, one misdemeanor count of persons prohibited from carrying firearms, one misdemeanor count of driving suspended, third offense, one misdemeanor count of impeding traffic, one misdemeanor count of no seatbelt, one misdemeanor count of false information, one misdemeanor count of no child restraints and one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance.

Parker represented the state while Bailey appeared on Currence’s behalf. Wilmoth presided.

∫ A capias warrant was issued for Josue Mateo-Bonilla, 34, of Elkins, after he failed to appear for a bond revocation hearing.

Mateo-Bonilla is charged with one felony count of first-degree robbery and one felony count of malicious assault.

Parker represented the state while G. Phillip Davis appeared on Mateo-Bonilla’s behalf. Wilmoth presided.

∫ A capias warrant was issued for Nicholas Adam Owens, 22, of Elkins, after he failed to appear for a bond revocation hearing.

Owens is charged with one felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Parker represented the state while Prentice appeared on Owens’ behalf. Wilmoth presided.

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