×

Valley Bend man facing domestic battery charge

ELKINS — A Randolph County man is behind bars after allegedly physically assaulting a female individual.

Donald Lee Taylor Jr., 34, of Valley Bend, is charged with one felony count of third-offense domestic battery. He is incarcerated at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $10,000 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, Cpl. B.W. Cogar, of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, responded to a report of a domestic altercation at a Crystal Lane residence near Valley Bend.

Upon arrival, Cogar spoke with the alleged victim, who said Taylor had “beat” her as she walked in the residence to walk her dogs. She added that Taylor threw her down, beat her and attempted to “rape” her, the complaint states.

The alleged victim said a roommate at the residence was able to direct Taylor’s attention away from her so she could contact law enforcement.

There was a visible scratch on the alleged victim’s face and her shirt was torn, which she said was a result of the alleged altercation, according to the complaint.

Taylor fled from the residence and was located by law enforcement under a bed at a neighboring residence.

Taylor has convictions for domestic battery on Sept. 18, 2014; domestic battery second offense on Feb. 6, 2015; domestic battery third offense — reduced to second offense — on Dec. 23, 2015; and an additional domestic battery third offense arrest on Aug. 27, which is still pending, the complaint states.

If convicted, Taylor could be sentenced to not less than one nor more than five years in the state penitentiary, fined not more than $2,500, or both.

Other arrests recorded in Randolph County:

• David Alan Conti, 31, of Mill Creek, is charged with one felony count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. He remains incarcerated at TVRJ on a $10,000 cash-only bond, set by Riggleman.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, on Nov. 12, a search warrant was served on a Blossum Road residence, where Conti owns a camper on the property where he resides.

The camper was searched and in the far right corner near the bed, officers located a couple bags of tools. Underneath the tools was a shotgun pouch with ammunition. Nineteen miscellaneous rounds of shotgun shells were in the pouch.

Conti is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing ammunition, the complaint states.

Conti was convicted of felony committing lewd acts upon a child under 16 years old in the state of South Carolina.

Based on the felony conviction of a sexual offense, Conti’s possession of the shotgun shells makes the charge a felony, according to the complaint.

If convicted, Conti could be sentenced to not more than five years in the state penitentiary, fined not more than $5,000, or both.

• Heather Lynn Iris Paugh, 37, of Elkins, is charged with one felony count of third-offense shoplifting. She remains incarcerated at TVRJ on a $10,000 cash or surety bond, set by Riggleman.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, on June 6, Cpl. G.L. Brown, of the Elkins Police Department, was dispatched to Smoker Friendly, located on Randolph Avenue in Elkins, regarding a shoplifting complaint.

Brown spoke to the store manager, who said Paugh came into the store and bought some items, but it looked like she had hidden something under her shirt. The manager added that the “beepers” went off when she left.

The manager said Paugh went to her car then came back in and pulled a security sticker off the inside of her shirt and said “Oh, that must have stuck to my shirt somehow,” the complaint states.

On surveillance footage, Paugh is observed putting a bottle of Captain Morgan, valued at $14.79, under her jacket. Paugh can then be seen going to another area of the store, pulling a sticker off an item and sticking it to the inside of her jacket.

Paugh has convictions for first-offense shoplifting on Dec. 16, 2015, and second-offense shoplifting on Feb. 14, the complaint states.

If convicted, Paugh could be sentenced to one to 10 years in the state penitentiary and fined not less than $500 nor more than $5,000. According to West Virginia state code, at least one year must be spent in confinement — either the penitentiary or home confinement — and not subject to probation.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $3.92/week.

Subscribe Today