Supreme Court To Consider Campaign Funding

{Charleston, West Virginia}...The state Supreme Court says it will hear oral arguments Tuesday on the case filed by state Supreme Court Republican candidate Allen Loughry who wants the High Court to force the State Election Commission to provide the additional campaign funding he says he should already be receiving. Loughry is the only candidate in the Supreme Court race that has opted to take part in the new public financing project approved by state lawmakers. He's already received $350,000. Loughry says he's due as much as $700,000 more because incumbent Justice Robin Davis has spent $420,000 in the race. The State Election Commission refused to release the rescue funds on a 2-2 vote in July. Some commission members have expressed concern about the legality of the public financing project while other members say they want to defend the constitutionality of the state law. Supreme Court Justices Robin Davis, Margaret Workman and Brent Benjamin have disqualified themselves from the case. Three circuit judges have been appointed by temporary assignment.

Task Force To Study 511 System

{Charleston, West Virginia}...West Virginia regulators are establishing a task force to study the Division of Highways' proposed new 511 traffic information system. The new system is designed to give travelers access to the large volume of real-time data currently collected by the state. That includes information about accidents, construction, weather and other events that affect traffic across the state. In late July, PSC staff members noted there was confusion in the past about rolling out statewide phone systems like 511. Last week, commissioners agreed with a staff recommendation to create a task force to study the plan

Kanawha County Sniper Sentenced

{Charleston, West Virginia}...Friday, Shawn Lester, 37, of Charleston, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the 2003 death of Jeanie Patton.  On July 30th, Lester pleaded guilty to second degree murder in connection with Patton's death. Lester was originally charged with first degree murder in the deaths of Patton, Gary Carrier Jr. and Okey Meadows Jr. As part of the plea, he was not required to admit to the murders of Gary Carrier Jr., and Okey Meadows Jr., who were killed outside separate gas stations on different days by a .22 Magnum Marlin rifle. Lester can never be tried in either of those two murders. Supervising deputy U.S. Marshal John James Perrine, who led portions of the initial sniper investigation in 2003, said last month that Lester was connected to several unsolved murders and confirmed that he may have been responsible for the 2008 murder of 33 year old Timothy Wayne Sigman, whose rmains were found buried under the porch of a home in Willard, Kentucky. Charleston Police Lt. Steve Cooper says there is still a continuing investigation into Sigman's murder.

Sentencings Set In Prison Drug Case

{Elkins, West Virginia}...October 24 th sentencings are set for 32 year old Karena Davis of Nitro, 33 year old Sarah Lynette Cantrell of Lesage and 29 year old Brian Allen Simpkins of Denmar, three people who pleaded guilty to participating in a plot to smuggle illegal drugs, tobacco and other contraband into the Huttonsville Correctional Center. Davis' brother, 25 year old Henry Martin Woody Jr. of Nitro pleaded not guilty. The case of a fifth co-defendant, 27 year old Michael Joe Bragg, was continued. Simpkins and Bragg are inmates at the prison. Davis testified that she had been romantically involved with both inmates.

Stabbing In Charleston

{Charleston, West Virginia}...Thirty-seven year old Eric Desmond of Charleston was stabbed early Friday on the city's East End. Desmond told police he was walking to the store about 1:40 A.M. when he stopped at the intersection of Elizabeth and Washington Streets East to count the money in his wallet and a man walked up and began a conversation with him. Desmond told police he began to put his wallet away, but dropped his bank card on the street and then saw the man putting the card in his own wallet. When Desmond asked the man if he had his bank card, Desmond says the man pulled a knife and cut him on the neck. Desmond was taken to CAMC General Hospital for treatment. Police later arrested 47 year old Granville Smith of Rand and charged him with malicious wounding.

Domestic Violence Pilot Program Launched

{Charleston, West Virginia}...Friday, Supreme Court Justice Robin Jean Davis launched a domestic violence pilot program in the Kanawha County court system that will change the way cases are handled. Under the four-year pilot program, all domestic violence cases will be handled by Family Court Judge Mike Kelly and consolidate the civil and criminal aspects of the case. In the past, 10 magistrates and five family court judges handled the cases, which split the issues between courts.  The goal of the program is to hold domestic violence offenders more accountable, focus on early intervention, and work more closely with agencies that help victims. The Supreme Court chose to establish the program in Kanawha County because it handles the largest volume of domestic violence cases each year.

Former Putnam County Schools Janitor Pleads Guilty

{Winfield, West Virginia}...Michael Timothy Crist, 47, of Pliny, a former Putnam County Schools janitor, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse by a parent or guardian and child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury. Crist was arrested last year after police say he physically and sexually abused a 14 year old family member. A week after Crist was arrested for pulling the girl's hair and spitting snuff in her face, among other things, charges of sexual abuse and incest were added. The teenager told hospital staff Crist had forced her to have sex with him for the past three years and that the abuse began about a month after her 11th birthday. Crist will be sentenced December 6th. He faces 11 to 25 years in prison and up to 50 years of supervised probation.