ELKINS — A Randolph County man was sentenced to one to five years for sexual assault in the third degree in Randolph County Circuit Court this week.

Justin Richard Roop, 34, was sentenced by Randolph County Circuit Court Judge David Wilmoth to not less than one and no more than five years of incarceration for sexual assault in the third degree, a felony.

Wilmoth said Roop will be under Intensive Supervision Office (ISO) supervision until he is 80 years old, will be restricted from having access to the internet, and is not allowed any direct or indirect contact with the victim. 

Roop is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail.

Roop was initially indicted in October on one count of sexual assault in the second degree; and four counts of sexual assault in the third degree, all felonies.

Steve Nanners, Roop’s attorney, asked the court to give Roop an alternative sentence with an “intensive supervision term,” citing that Roop has had only two prior offenses, one of which is another sexual assault charge in Monongalia County from 2019. 

Nanners explained to the court that the alleged assault occurred in Randolph County between 2012 and 2014, before the assault charge in Monongalia County, and that prior to being arrested in Randolph County, Roop had been out on probation for the Monongalia County charge with no violations.

Roop chose not to address the court during the sentencing. No one appeared in court to speak on behalf of the victim.

Before sentencing Roop, Wilmoth stated that it was because of the Monongalia County assault case that the Randolph County case was brought to light. Wilmoth went on to go over some of the facts of the Randolph County case, stating that Roop allegedly claimed that the victim was his ex-girlfriend and that contact had been consensual. Wilmoth added, however, that the victim had been approximately 15 at the time of the incident.

“She was not able to consent because she was a minor,” Wilmoth said to Roop. “She disputes that you had any type of romantic relationship. In fact, she uses the word rape.”