By Lon Anderson
Moorefield Examiner
When defendant Shannon Judy showed up in the courtroom of Circuit Court Judge C. Carter Williams in Moorefield on January 28 for a sentencing hearing involving drugs, he quickly learned he had made a big mistake. He was wearing a tee shirt featuring moonshine.
“I have a notion to send you home just to make you change your shirt,” declared Williams. “Do not come back with clothes making reference to drugs or liquor. You might try wearing a shirt and tie: sometimes your clothing speaks louder than your words.”
In the end, the Judge issued a continuance for the sentencing hearing until Feb 11, noting that he wanted to know more about the latest charge against Judy before sentencing.
“I suggest you walk the straight and narrow between now and then,” Williams warned. [private]
Also in court for a sentencing hearing last week was Angel Stump, 45, of Moorefield. Last February Stump was found guilty of seven felony counts involving arson in a trial stemming from a fire that destroyed a home in the 100-block of Chipley Lane in June 2017.
Her attorney, Jason Gain, rose to tell the court that in spite of her conviction in that jury trial, “There’s no way around this, she maintains her innocence.”
She’s never been in trouble and her family is here to support her,” Gain continued. She has served one year and suggested she be given a minimal sentence based upon her background.
The Judge told Stump she had the right to address the court, which she did.
“How sickening this is to me,” she said. “It has cost my family their home and their sanity, and I don’t understand how I am standing here being sentenced.”
“I am a good person with the Lord in my heart,” she continued, “and I am more than fortunate even as I stand here. They have sacrificed so much for me. Your honor, I am not a flight risk, not a danger to society. I ask the court to release me (with restrictions) so I can be a productive member of society.”
Stump’s mother, Peggy Stump, also addressed the Court and also insisted on her daughter’s innocence. “I just want to say she is innocent: she didn’t do this arson. It wasn’t her, it wasn’t us. She’s been taking care of me and I need her and love her.”
Blondea Turner, Stump’s aunt, also spoke on her behalf. Noting that she had a law enforcement background and had reviewed the entire file, she told the court: “I saw no motive, no evidence. If the truth doesn’t matter, what does?”
“I understand you don’t agree,” the Judge said, “but the purpose today is to sentence her” and not to re-argue guilt or innocence.
The judge then asked the Prosecuting Attorney, Lucas See, for his recommendation, which was a 20-year sentence which, he noted, would make her eligible for parole after five years.
In the end, after taking everything into consideration, Williams said, he “could find no cause that would preclude sentencing her,” noting that there were multiple charges related to the arson and the jury of her peers that was fit and qualified to hear the case convicted her on all counts.
In addition to the Court-ordered restitution of $157,282.21, he sentenced her to multiple concurrent sentences that totaled 20 years, noting that she would be parole eligible after serving one-quarter of the time and he gave her credit for the one year already served.
In other cases that day:
Defendant Justin Hinkle who was on probation stemming from an assault charge, had his probation revoked, based on a home visit by the probation officer on December 30 when Hinkle tested positive for drugs, and several needles were discovered in the house. Hinkle admitted to the drug use, and Judge Williams revoked the probation and ordered him to serve the balance of his 90-day sentence, with credit for time already served.
Derek Miller, who is on bond over drug charges, had a final pre-trial status hearing in which the Judge set the plea hearing for later in February. “Let me give you a word of caution,” Williams said. “If there’s any drug testing that’s positive, or anything else, there’ll be no wiggle room. You’re on bond—if you violate that you’ll be arrested and likely held until your trial. Staying clean is the best way to stay out of jail.”
Ingrid Reyes-Ubiera pleaded down from a felony to misdemeanor domestic battery charge “for knowingly and wantonly causing harm to another member of her household.” Williams sentenced her to one year, but suspended the sentence, putting her on supervised probation and giving her credit for the 15 days she had already served, and warned her she must have no contact with the victim.
David Sions, who was being held for extradition for the Town of Winchester on two counts of possession of a controlled substance, waived his right to fight the extradition. The Judge noted, however, that the Town would have to come get him by Friday, Jan. 31 or Sions would be freed.[/private]
