ELKINS — A Randolph County man was sentenced to one to three years in prison on a drug delivery charge with the possibility of supervised probation if he qualifies for North Central Community Corrections’ drug program.

James Allen Shockey, 40, of Elkins, appeared before Randolph County Circuit Judge Jayme Wilfong with attorney Gregory Tingler. Wilfong sentenced Shockey to no more than one, no less than three years in the state penitentiary.

Wilfong stated that Shockey’s sentence would be suspended for five years of supervised probation effective Aug. 11 if Shockey were to qualify for North Central Community Corrections’ drug program. If he does qualify, Shockey must successfully complete the program as part of that probation.

Shockey previously entered an agreement to plead guilty to one count of attempted delivery of a controlled substance, a felony.

He was initially indicted in February on one count of delivery of a controlled substance, a felony.

Before sentencing, Tingler explained to the court that Shockey had been working on his sobriety while in jail, and was planning on returning to work at a restaurant that was no longer in Elkins, but now in Philippi.

Tingler asked the court to consider sentencing Shockey to no less than six months, no more than 12 months in jail or, alternatively, a suspended sentence with probation to make sure Shockey was “on the straight and narrow” with his sobriety.

Shockey spoke to the court next, apologizing for his actions and explaining his plan for when he gets out of prison.

“It makes me sad to see these people come into jail off the drugs I was selling,” Shockey told the court. “It makes me feel bad about (selling drugs). I didn’t realize how much of a life I really had… until I lost everything now, and I’m ready to get back to my family.”

Shockey explained that he still had a close relationship with his family and that, as long as he kept doing well, his family was supporting him through this. 

Shockey added that he had plans to move to Philippi because he had been taught at Tygart Valley Regional Jail that, in order to stay clean of drugs, he had to change his “people, places and things.” He explained that he hardly knows anyone in Barbour County and it would be a fresh start away from where he had been selling drugs.

Prior to sentencing Shockey, Wilfong said she was concerned that Shockey would not have enough support to stay drug free if she just put him on probation, and that she was also not comfortable with him going to Barbour County and not having the support system he currently has with his family.