Soliciting a minor via computer case now headed to grand jury

The Inter-Mountain photo by Taylor McKinnie Mika Shane Morris, left, speakis with his attorney, Steven Nanners, after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing in Randolph County Magistrate Court this week.
ELKINS — The case against a Beverly man accused of soliciting a minor via computer is headed for the grand jury after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing this week.
Mika Shane Morris, 33, appeared in Randolph County Magistrate Court Thursday and waived his right to a preliminary hearing, clearing the way for his case to be considered by a grand jury in Randolph County Circuit Court.
Morris is accused of soliciting a minor via computer. He is currently being held at Tygart Valley Regional Jail.
Before the hearing was waived, Steven Nanners, Morris’ attorney, informed Magistrate Court Judge Tracy Harper that he and Assistant Randolph County Prosecutor Leckta Poling had discussed a possible bond modification. Morris’ bond was initially $50,000 cash-only.
“My client is a resident of Beverly, West Virginia,” Nanners told the court. “He resides with his mother. We have put in the appropriate safeguards for the community as part of a bond modification… Based upon that and the fact my client has been incarcerated since August, we would ask the court to grant a bond modification to $25,000 via 10% with the terms and conditions as so forth.”
The safeguards Nanners detailed included no contact with any people under the age of 18, no contact with the victim or their family, no use of electronic devices and checking in with North Central Community Corrections.
Poling said the state had no objections to the motion for modification.
Harper ruled that Morris’ bond would be modified from $50,000 cash-only to $50,000 via 10% cash. Harper elaborated on the terms and conditions of the bond, reiterating that Morris should have no contact with anyone under the age of 18, the victim or the victim’s family.
She also explained that the ban on Morris’ use of electronic devices included all devices that connect to the internet, and that Morris could not have access to social media. Morris would also have to check in with North Central Community Corrections twice a week for random drug and alcohol screenings.