Finlen

MABIE — A Randolph County man faces a felony battery charge after allegedly assaulting another man during a disagreement involving keys to a four-wheeler.

Thomas Jay Finlen, 45, is charged with third-offense domestic battery, a felony. He is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $5,000 cash-only bond, set by Magistrate Ben Shepler.

According to the criminal complaint, filed by Trooper H.J. Bonetti with the Elkins Detachment of the West Virginia State Police, on Nov. 8, Bonetti was dispatched to a “battery no longer in progress” call at a residence in Mabie.

Upon arrival, Bonetti made contact with the alleged victim, who said they had taken the four-wheeler keys from Finlen because he had been drinking, the complaint states.

A verbal altercation began and the alleged victim told Finlen to stop arguing as there were children in the residence, according to the complaint..

The alleged victim told Bonetti that Finlen then allegedly struck them once in the face and a physical altercation began, the complaint states.

Bonetti also took a statement from a witness, who said the alleged victim came to the residence to get away from Finlen, the complaint states. The witness claimed that Finlen also entered the residence and struck the alleged victim, before the alleged victim pushed Finlen off of them.

Finlen was questioned by Bonetti as to what happened with the alleged victim, the complaint states. Finlen allegedly told Bonetti to “ask (the alleged victim) what happened.” Bonetti asked Finlen what happened two more times; however, Finlen allegedly still would not give any details.

According to the complaint, the Elkins West Virginia State Police Communications informed Bonetti that Finlen had two prior convictions for domestic battery, one in 2010 and the other in October of this year.