Robinson

ELKINS — A Valley Head man was sentenced Wednesday to one year in prison and five years of supervised probation, with extensive contingencies, after pleading guilty to conspiracy and grand larceny charges.

Eric Wayne Robinson, 33, was sentenced by Randolph County Circuit Court Judge David Wilmoth to one year of incarceration for one count of misdemeanor conspiracy and to not less than one, no more than 10 years for one count of grand larceny, suspended for five years of supervised probation. He will receive credit for time already served.

Robinson’s suspended sentence will run consecutive to the misdemeanor sentence. Wilmoth stated that, during Robinson’s probation, he will be expected to participate in a drug counseling program, receive his GED and obtain full-time “legitimate, legal” employment. Wilmoth also stated that, alongside restitution and child support, Robinson had several financial obligations that needed to be a part of his probation as well.

“You’ve got responsibilities that you’re refusing to acknowledge,” Wilmoth told Robinson after sentencing.

Robinson accepted a plea agreement to plead guilty to one count of grand larceny and one count of misdemeanor conspiracy on June 2. He was initially indicted by a grand jury in February on two counts of burglary, a felony; one count of grand larceny; one count of conspiracy, a felony; and one count of destruction of property, a misdemeanor.

Before sentencing, Robinson’s attorney, Morris Davis, addressed the court stating that Robinson’s actions were not violent, but the result of wanting to “feed his own (drug) habit.” Davis referred to Robinson as “a get-away driver” in the incident that led to his arrest.

“It’s not to say he didn’t have some role in this, he certainly did, but there’s no evidence that he was the one actually up there breaking into the house,” Davis told the court. “You have before you a gentleman before you who has a drug problem.”

Davis asked the court to issue an alternative sentence for Robinson, considering Robinson’s addiction and this was his first felony offense. 

“What we’re asking for today is, we’re asking for more supervision,” Davis said. “We’re asking for more help through probation… (Robinson) wants the help… He realizes he’s got to make a change and he’s asking the court for some help.”

Robinson did not address the court before sentencing.

Randolph County Assistant Prosecutor Colin Henning told the court before sentencing that he agreed with Davis that Robinson had “lost himself in his substance abuse.” 

Henning stated that he believed that probation could be very beneficial for Robinson, especially if it included a rehab program and court-ordered responsibilities, but then stated that Robinson’s responses in the Pre-Sentence Investigation did not show him having a desire to go to rehab. Henning suggested incarceration instead.

“One concern I have to that suggestion is (Robinson) indicated in his PSI that he didn’t think he needed rehab,” Henning told the court. “I think that’s a bad start… Without that desire to do a rehab program, I don’t see it being successful and I don’t think probation would be beneficial.”

Wilmoth, as he sentenced Robinson, stated that he was concerned by the “significant misdemeanors” in Robinson’s past, as well as his education level and work history. Wilmoth stated that Robinson “needed to do better” than he had in the past.