Simmons

BUCKHANNON — An Upshur County man is facing felony charges after allegedly strangling and burning another man during a domestic dispute.

Joseph Dale Simmons, 42, is charged with one count of domestic battery third offense, one count of unlawful assault and one count of strangulation, all felonies. Simmons is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond.

According to the criminal complaint, filed by Patrolman First Class Wade Loudin with the Buckhannon City Police Department, on April 24, Loudin was dispatched to a residence in reference to “a domestic.”

Upon Loudin’s arrival, he made contact with the alleged victim, the complaint states. The alleged victim stated that Simmons had gotten angry and thrown stuff inside the residence. Simmons then reportedly choked the alleged victim, as well as burned him on the back of his neck. Loudin observed a red burn mark on the back of the alleged victim’s neck.

The alleged victim gave consent for Loudin to search the residence, the complaint states. Loudin and Trooper Elmore with the West Virginia State Police entered the residence to make sure no one was inside and observed that the living room had stuff on the floor from Simmons allegedly throwing things. Loudin and Elmore entered the basement and observed more items “all over the floor” from the reported physical altercation between Simmons and the alleged victim.

Sgt. Gordon with the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office later located Simmons in a building at the back of the property, the complaint states. Simmons was placed into custody and transported to the Buckhannon Police Department for processing.

Loudin writes that a prior records check revealed that Simmons had a prior domestic battery-third offense charge from 2016.