Trending
ELKINS -- A Randolph County man has been sentenced to prison time on drug and fleeing charges.
William Theodore Bishop Jr., 58, was sentenced last week by Randolph County Circuit Court Judge David Wilmoth to no less than one, no more than three years of incarceration for one count of attempt to deliver a controlled substance, a felony. He was also sentenced to 12 months of incarceration for one count of fleeing in a vehicle, a misdemeanor. The sentences will run consecutively with the 12 months occurring first, and Bishop will have to pay a $500 fine.
On May 4, Bishop entered into a plea agreement, taking an Alford Plea for one count of attempt to deliver a controlled substance and one count of fleeing in a vehicle. An Alford plea, also known as a Kennedy plea, means that Bishop did not have to admit to the criminal act and could assert his innocence, but he still accepted the imposition of a sentence. Bishop was initially indicted in February by the Randolph County Grand Jury on two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, a felony.
Bishop was represented by attorney Les Mallow. The state was represented by Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Parker.
At the hearing’s start, Wilmoth noted that this was the third sentencing hearing they’d had to schedule for this case as Bishop had initially refused to fill out his pre-sentence report. When Bishop did do the report, however, Wilmoth said the answers appeared to be sarcastic and impenitent. Mallow then informed the court that Bishop still wished to be sentenced without the report. Bishop then waived his right to the pre-sentence report.
Mallow asked Wilmoth to run the sentences concurrently and suspend any sentence Bishop was to receive for probation “for a minimum period” with terms and conditions. Mallow argued that probation would be best in the situation, considering Bishop’s age and health treatment needs. He also stated that Bishop has never willingly entered rehabilitation and that he has never received the opportunity for rehabilitation.
Bishop also addressed the court, also asking for probation. He said the court wouldn’t see him again after this case, stating that, with his health, he may be dead soon and that standing up there in the courtroom was “killing” him due to neuropathy. Bishop said he knows he messed up, but also that “it’s done, it’s done.” He also stated that he did not want to go to rehab, he just wanted probation.
Parker told the court that he would not be giving a sentencing recommendation as per the plea agreement.
As he sentenced Bishop, Wilmoth stated that Bishop had previously written multiple letters to him about going to rehab, but he believed Bishop had no intention of seeking rehabilitation based on the testimony given that day. Wilmoth concluded that he wanted the sentencing board to note he did not believe Bishop was an “appropriate candidate” for parole and that Bishop should serve the entirety of his sentence as he had not been cooperative with the court, with Mallow or with probation, and had therefore not “earned the consideration for parole.”