Wilmoth swore in a newly elected magistrate, Tracy Harper, along with magistrates Ben Shepler and Mike Dyer, and Senior Status Magistrate Mike Riggleman.

Shepler and Dyer both ran unopposed in the November election, while Harper defeated Michele Hommema VanMeter for the open magistrate position in Division I. Rob Elbon left the seat to run successfully for Randolph County sheriff.

Riggleman will be used in case a magistrate has to recuse himself from a case, is off for an extended period time due to an illness, or any other unforeseeable circumstances.

Harper said she is grateful that the voters of Randolph County showed faith in her.

From left are Circuit Judge David Wilmoth and Randolph County Magistrates Mike Riggleman, Ben Shepler, Tracy Harper and Mike Dyer.

“I appreciated all the support that was given to me by the people of Randolph County,” Harper said. “Being sworn in today was a very special moment for me. I have been anxiously awaiting this day for a while.”

Shepler has served as magistrate in Randolph County for the past 12 years and is looking forward to another term.

“I’m just excited to serve my fourth term as magistrate of Randolph County,” said Shepler. “I’m looking forward to continuing to be fair and honest to all citizens.”

Shepler said COVID-19 has changed the day-to-day operations of a magistrate in 2020.

“It’s been rough because most of the stuff we are doing is online,” he said. “It’s been different because instead of bringing in defendants in person, we are doing skype hearings, polycom hearings, and anything else we can to keep them from entering back-and-forth from the regional jail or any other facility.”

Dyer was appointed in 2019 to fill the seat of Riggleman, who had retired as a full-time magistrate.

“I’m looking forward to the next four years and I’m thankful for this opportunity,” Dyer said. “This past year has been challenging in the court system, but I believe we have adapted well. Most of our court hearings with incarcerated individuals are conducted via video, limiting the exposure to court staff as well as the jail staff and inmates.

“The staff at the Tygarts Valley Regional Jail have been great to help us facilitate these changes. We have been fortunate in our office that no one has contacted COVID and we have remained open to the public while following CDC guidelines. This is important so people can access the court to file paperwork and take care of court business. We’re all hoping we will return to some sort of normalcy in 2021.”