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ELKINS -- A Randolph County man was sentenced this week to one to 10 years in prison for a felony charge and one year on a misdemeanor charge after breaking into the Halliehurst Mansion on the campus of Davis & Elkins College in 2025.
Keith Lance Ray, 36, was sentenced Monday by Randolph County Circuit Court Judge David Wilmoth to no less than one and no more than 10 years of incarceration for one count of entry into a building other than a dwelling, a felony. Ray was also sentenced to one year of incarceration for one count of misdemeanor destruction of property. Both of his sentences will run consecutively with credit for time already served.
On June 1, Ray entered into a plea agreement. Ray was initially indicted in February by the Randolph County Grand Jury on one count of breaking and entering, one count of destruction of property, and one count of burglary, all felonies.
Ray was represented this week by attorney Steven Nanners. The state was represented by Assistant Randolph County Prosecutor Colin Henning.
At the hearing’s start, Nanners asked the court to have Ray’s two sentences run concurrently. He argued that Ray had a very limited criminal history and had already served more than 500 days in prison, having been arrested in February 2025. Nanners explained that Ray plans to enter a sober living home away from the area if he is paroled.
Ray declined to speak before the court. No one from D&E was in attendance to speak on the college’s behalf.
Henning made the recommendation that, for the charge of entry into a building other than a dwelling, Ray should receive one to 10 years. He also recommended that, for destruction of property, he should receive one year in jail with both sentences running consecutively.
Henning stated that Ray did have some criminal history with a prior destruction of property charge. He noted that, in the pre-sentence report Ray filled out, it was indicated that Ray was aware of the consequences his drug use could have on the community, and that was why the state did not believe it was “appropriate” for Ray to be out of jail. Henning also recommended that restitution should be set around $69,379.
As he sentenced Ray, Wilmoth said he did not believe that an alternative sentence was appropriate in this case, or for the sentences to run concurrently. He noted it appeared to him that, despite the plea agreement, Ray really hadn’t accepted responsibility for his actions.
According to the criminal complaint, prepared by Cpl. D.E. George of the Elkins Police Department, on Feb. 16, 2025, at approximately 7 p.m., officers were called with a report of glass breaking at Halliehurst Mansion. Once on the campus, D&E security advised George that windows “appeared to be” broken out at Halliehurst.
Security officers also said “they observed a male subject wearing all black clothing walking near the Elkins City Park,” the compliant states.
Later, George was informed that officers were speaking with Ray on Davis Avenue, according to the complaint. An officer said he “heard a noise and noticed Ray walking on Davis Avenue” and “the noise was later determined to be from a beer bottle that Ray threw which hit the Police Department Office trailer, causing damage to the siding.”
George went to Halliehurst, where he “observed significant damage done to the building and items inside the building,” the complaint states. “A window had been opened on the deck, which appeared to be how the subject entered.” Security camera footage “showed Ray inside Halliehurst at approximately” 3:30 p.m.