ELKINS — The case against an Elkins man accused of pointing a handgun at a 12-year-old boy is headed for the grand jury after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

Eddie Ray Collins, 32, appeared in Randolph County Magistrate Court this week 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.

Collins is charged with felony wanton endangerment. He is being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond, set by Randolph County Magistrate Tracy Harper. 

During the hearing, Collins’ attorney, Morris Davis, made a motion requesting a bond modification during the hearing, claiming that Collins was not a danger to the community and not a flight risk. Davis also argued there was a question as to why this incident occurred in the first place, calling the statement from the 12-year-old alleged victim “fanciful.”

Assistant Randolph County Prosecutor Leckta Poling argued against a modification of bond, stating that Collins has had a multitude of charges in the past, including failure to appear charges. Poling also cited the nature of the charge and the incident as reason to not modify Collins’ bond.

Randolph County Magistrate Benjamin Shepler denied the motion to modify bond.

“As everyone here knows, anytime there is a firearm involved in a case, with me presiding over it… (it is) a cash-only bond,” Shepler said. “This will not change.”

Collins was arrested on Feb. 5 after deputies with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call in reference to a male subject brandishing a firearm at a juvenile in Elkins, the criminal complaint states.

Senior Deputy T.J. Knotts and Chief Deputy B.T. were summoned to the scene after a woman called 911 and reported the incident. When the officers arrived, a witness provided a written statement alleging that after driving her side-by-side to the end of a driveway to put out trash, the alleged victim made his way to the barn to feed the horses, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, after feeding the horses and coming out of the barn, the boy was approached by Collins, who came out of a white SUV with a handgun. The witness statement alleged that Collins “pointed the gun at (the juvenile).” The complaint states the juvenile pulled out his own pistol and told Collins that “you better leave.”

Collins then got back into his vehicle and left the scene, according to the complaint. The juvenile advised deputies that when he was interacting with Collins, he detected a strong odor of alcohol emitting from him. He also told deputies that he feared for his life when the gun, which he described as a back semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine, was pointed at him.