Clemens

ELKINS — A Randolph County man who fled from police custody at the Randolph County Magistrate Court Office in 2024 received the maximum sentence on Wednesday, while also waiting to be sentenced on federal gun charges.

Steven Mark Clemens, Jr., 40, was sentenced by Randolph County Circuit Court Judge Jaymie Godwin Wilfong to no more than five years in prison for one count of escape by persons in custody of institutions or officers, a felony. He will receive credit for time already served.

Clemens entered into a plea agreement on Nov. 13, pleading guilty to one count of escape by a person in custody of institutions or officers. He was initially indicted by a Randolph County Grand Jury in February 2025 on one count of escape by persons in custody of institutions or officers and two counts of burglary, a felony.

Before Clemens was sentenced, Assistant Randolph County Prosecutor Richard Shryock told the court that the state would recommend, as per the November plea agreement, a sentence of no less than three years for Clemens.

“Based upon all the facts and circumstances, (Clemen’s) criminal history, the lack of much of a work history and the fact that there is a federal indictment for which he stands accused of firearm offenses, the state believes that a three-year sentence would be appropriate,” Shryock told the court.

In turn, Clemens’ attorney, Brent Easton, asked the court to consider issuing a sentence of less than three years and suspending the sentence for a probation period that would begin after the conclusion of the federal charges.

“(Clemens) has done significant time here. He’s accepted responsibility for what he’s done,” Easton told the court. “He feels remorse for the wrongfulness of his actions… even though Mr. Clemens appreciates the state’s recommendation, we ask the court to consider probation as well.”

Clemens did not address the court himself.

After sentencing Clemens, Wilfong strongly suggested that Clemens participate in federal drug court after he is sentenced on the federal charges. Wilfong cited Clemen’s drug addiction as a main cause of his criminal history.

“I know you can change that (the addiction). I also know only you can change it,” Wilfong told Clemens. “I wish that the circumstances were such that I could put you on drug court here… if you get an opportunity to do that in the federal court system, then you’ve got to make your own decision, but I would jump on that with both feet and just be all in.”

During a pre-trial conference in June, Easton informed the court that Clemens had been indicted on federal charges in the Northern District on June 17.

Easton explained that the initial arrest leading to Clemens’ escape from the Randolph County Magistrate Court Office in 2024 revolved around “some gun allegations” and “stolen guns,” and those were the charges that were being assumed by the federal government.

According to the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation website, Clemens is also being held at Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a charge issued by the Northern District of West Virginia U.S. Marshal Service, with no bond.

During Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, Easton informed the court that Clemens had entered into a plea agreement on the federal charges. Clemens has yet to be sentenced on the federal charges.

On Dec. 11, 2024, Clemens fled police custody at the Randolph County Magistrate Court Office, and allegedly hid in an Elkins resident’s home before being captured.

Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Tyler Knotts located and arrested Clemens, who officers had been searching for, that same day without incident, officials told The Inter-Mountain in a previous statement. Clemens was then transported to the Magistrate Court Office.

“We had a warrant for (Clemens) and Deputy Knotts went and found him,” Randolph County Sheriff Rob Elbon told The Inter-Mountain in a previous statement. “Deputy Knotts located him walking down the street and after picking him up, they processed him at the Sheriff’s Office before taking him to the Magistrate Court for arraignment.”

During the process, a magistrate had a question about the warrant for Knotts. When Knotts briefly stepped away, Clemens darted out the back door of the Magistrate Court Office with handcuffs on, Elbon said. Deputies immediately pursued Clemens in the nearby neighborhood, and with the use of K-9 Officer Twix, they were immediately able to track Clemens.

“Twix led them to a house on Davis Street, where the lady who owned the home told us that some guy just came into her house and when she confronted him, he took off back out of the house,” Elbon said.

“From there we tracked him to another house on Davis Street, where the owner told us that there was some guy in his shower. So we brought people out of the house and (Clemens) ran upstairs. After getting all the occupants out of the home, the guys went in with the dog and took him out of the attic.”

The Elkins City Police and Elkins Detachment of the West Virginia State Police assisted the Sheriff’s Office during the pursuit.