Haney

ELKINS — The Grand Jury will hear the against a Randolph County man accused of allegedly firing two shots toward another man’s head after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

Paden Heath Haney, 22, of Beverly, is charged with one count of wanton endangerment involving a firearm, a felony. He is currently being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $35,000 cash-only bond.

On Tuesday, Haney appeared in Randolph County Magistrate Court and waived his right to a preliminary hearing. His case will now be brought before the Randolph County Grand Jury for consideration.

During the Tuesday hearing, Haney’s attorney, Les Mallow, asked Randolph County Magistrate Tracy Harper to reduce and add a property aspect to Haney’s $35,000 cash-only bond. Mallow argued that Haney was a life-long resident of Randolph County and “virtually” no criminal history. Mallow informed the court that, if Haney made bond, he would have two jobs lined up, one in Point Pleasant and another in Elkins.

Assistant Randolph County Prosecutor Leckta Poling told the court that, as part of the agreement where Haney would waive his right to a preliminary hearing, the state would remain silent on the issue of bond. Harper denied Mallow’s motion, leaving Haney’s as is.

According to the criminal complaint, filed by Trooper R.K. Stewart with the Elkins Detachment of the West Virginia State Police, on June 5, Stewart was dispatched by Randolph County 911 to a physical altercation in the area of Pike Street in Beverly.

Upon arrival, Stewart was advised that Haney had allegedly gotten into a physical altercation with another man, the complaint states. Stewart was advised by multiple witnesses that, after the altercation, Haney allegedly fired a firearm in the direction of the other man.

Two bullet casings and two holes were located in front of the residence on Pike Street, according to the complaint. Stewart was also advised that Haney had left the area in an unknown direction in a vehicle with a woman driving.

On June 14, Stewart obtained a recorded statement from the other man in the altercation, the alleged victim in this case, the complaint states. The alleged victim reportedly advised that he had been in an altercation with Haney.

Stewart was reportedly further advised by the alleged victim that, when the altercation was over, Haney went to his girlfriend’s vehicle, retrieved a “rifle style firearm” and fired approximately two shots near the alleged victim’s head, according to the complaint. The alleged victim said the shots were close enough to make his ears ring.