Rhodes

ELKINS — A Randolph County man accepted a plea agreement this week regarding a 2023 stabbing incident involving his spouse.

Mark Allen Rhodes, 57, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful assault, a felony, and one count of domestic assault, a misdemeanor. Rhodes agreed to an Alford plea, also known as a Kennedy plea, meaning he did not have to admit to the criminal act and could assert his innocence, but he still accepted the imposition of a sentence.

Rhodes was initially indicted on one count of malicious assault, a felony, and one count of domestic battery, a misdemeanor in October 2024. He is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond.

Representing Rhodes was attorney James Hawkins Jr., who told the court he believed this plea agreement was in Rhodes’ best interest because it reduces his exposure to longer sentences for both charges.

Before Judge David Wilmoth accepted the plea agreement between Rhodes and the prosecution, Assistant Randolph County Prosecutor Richard Shryock informed the court of the factual basis for the case. 

Shryock said that on Dec. 17, 2023, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in Mill Creek for a reported stabbing. The responding officer was advised that Rhodes had “stabbed his spouse” and then had stabbed himself. Rhodes was detained, and his chest and arms were “covered in blood” while deputies noted a laceration to his chest.

“What had happened, your honor, was the defendant (Rhodes) and the victim in this case were in the process of separating, having been married,” Shryock told the court. “(Rhodes) returned to the residence. The victim really didn’t want to let him in, but she did and while he was there, he went to try and hug her, your honor, and while doing that, stabbed her in the back.”

The victim suffered a hemopneumothorax, which Shryock described as when “air and blood collect in the space between the lungs and the chest wall.” The victim was lifeflighted to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, where she was treated and released the next day, Shryock said. Rhodes was lifeflighted to Ruby Memorial Hospital for his wounds as well.

When asked by Wilmoth if what Shryock said was accurate, Rhodes said it was “to the best of my knowledge.”

A sentencing hearing for Rhodes was set for Dec. 3.