A Denver, Colorado, man aims to get his life back on track after facing another DUI charge in Wetzel County.

Wetzel County Circuit Court Judge Richard Wilson presided over a plea and sentencing hearing for Ryan Rouze, 39, of Denver, Colo., on July 8. Rouze pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle while revoked for DUI. Wilson ordered Rouze to 1-3 years of home confinement. He must pay a $5,000 fine. Rouze already completed an intensive outpatient program for his alcoholism.

Rouze said he has struggled with his alcohol addiction for several years.

“Everytime I drink I make bad decisions,” he said. “Everything I’ve ever done bad in my life has alcohol behind it.”

Wetzel County Prosecutor Tim Haught said Rouze will have to pay for his home confinement monitoring costs. Wilson asked if he was employed. Rouze said he had a job lined up with a refuse company and that he will have a ride to and from work.

He apologized to the court and to his family for his actions. Wilson told him that he should also apologize to the public for driving drunk.

“The public was at risk. You’re going down the road, through an intersection … you could crash into a family van,” Wilson said.

Rouze replied, “I’m grateful I haven’t been in an accident or hurt anyone.”

Haught said that it was Rouze’s “last chance” to stay out of jail.

“Don’t make us regret this,” he said.

Rouze’s attorney, Andy Mendelson, said he was proud of Rouze’s actions to get sober.

“He is a man of his word; he will stay on the right path,” he said.

Rouze originally faced a three-count indictment including one count of fleeing in a vehicle from an officer while DUI; one count of DUI alcohol third offense; and one count of driving while revoked for DUI third or subsequent offense, all on or about Jan. 23, 2025. Two counts were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Meanwhile, Wilson presided over several other hearings on July 8:

Lisa Ramsey, 63, of Akron, Ohio, will serve three years of supervised probation after Wilson ordered a suspended sentence of 1-15 years in prison. Ramsey pleaded guilty to one county of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Wetzel County Prosecutor Timothy Haught said because of Ramsey’s physical condition it was not in the state’s best interest for Ramsey to be sent to prison. Ramsey has spinal issues including degenerative disc disease. It was noted she had already completed an intensive outpatient program prior to sentencing.

Billy Joe Barnette, 52, of New Martinsville pleaded guilty to failure to update his sex offender registry information with the West Virginia State Police. A presentence investigation report was ordered by Wilson. His attorney is Roger Curry. Haught is prosecuting the case.

Carl H. Haught Jr., 46, of Smithfield, W.Va., appeared before Wilson for a status hearing related to a case of alleged sex abuse crimes. He waived his right to a trial this term. He will return to court at 10 a.m. Sept. 23. Wetzel County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Justin Craft is prosecuting the case. David White is his attorney. Haught is facing a 10-count felony indictment related to alleged sexual crimes against a child including three counts of sexual abuse in the first degree for allegedly touching the minor’s breasts through her clothing with his hands; three counts of sexual abuse by a custodian for allegedly touching the minor’s breasts through her clothing with his hands; one count of display to minor obscene matter for allegedly showing the minor a video of two adults engaged in sexually explicit conduct; one count of sexual abuse in the first degree for allegedly touching the minor’s buttocks through her clothing with his hands; one count of sexual abuse by a custodian for allegedly touching the minor’s buttocks through her clothing with his hands; and one count of soliciting a minor by means other than via a computer for allegedly asking if the minor “wanted to have some fun” after allegedly touching the child’s breasts with his hands. The alleged crimes occurred during the months of July 2024 and September 2024.

Mark McCoy Haverty, 55, of Davis, W.Va., pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fleeing from officers. He was sentenced by Wilson to 118 days in jail and he had already served that amount of time. He was anticipated to be released that day. White is his attorney. Haverty fled in a Ford F-150 Raptor on W.Va. 20 from Wetzel County Sheriff’s Department Detective Gary Glasscock, who had activated his lights and siren in an attempt to stop the vehicle. Haverty showed reckless indifference to the safety of others by driving at high rates of speed, passing vehicles in no-passing zones. White is his attorney. Haught is prosecuting the case.

Shasta Nicole Jones, 28, of Sistersville, who is accused of drug-related crimes, appeared before Wilson. A status hearing and possible plea hearing was slated for 9:30 a.m. July 25. Haught is prosecuting the case. Mike Baum is her attorney. Jones is facing charges related to allegedly transporting drugs. The six-count indictment includes one count of conspiracy to transport controlled narcotic substances, fentanyl, into the state for allegedly transporting the drugs from Pennsylvania into West Virginia; one count of transporting controlled narcotic substances, fentanyl, into the state; one count of conspiracy to transport controlled narcotic substances, heroin, into the state; one count of transporting controlled narcotic substances, heroin, into the state; one count of possession of a controlled narcotic substance, fentanyl, with intent to deliver; and one count of possession of a controlled narcotic substance, heroin, with intent to deliver.

Kayla Amanda Quinn appeared before Wilson for a plea hearing related to alleged fraud. A return hearing for a possible plea was set for 9 a.m July 25. Haught represents the state. Curry is her attorney. Quinn is facing an 18-count indictment alleging fraudulent use of an access device. It alleges Quinn used a woman’s bank card without permission to make purchases at various businesses across Wetzel County.

Kristi Rhena Fox, 41, of New Martinsville is set to return at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 20 for a possible plea hearing. Her attorney is John Jurko. Haught is prosecuting the case. She has already pleaded not guilty to drug charges. Fox is charged with the alleged offenses of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, with intent to deliver between Feb. 8 and 16, 2025. A second and third count in the indictment alleges possession with intent to deliver fentanyl and possession with intent to deliver xylazine.

Dora Mae Glendenning appeared for a status hearing related to alleged drug charges. She is scheduled to return at 1:45 p.m. Aug. 20 for a status and pretrial motions hearing. Her attorney is Jurko and Haught is prosecuting the case. She has already pleaded not guilty to drug-related charges. The alleged charges include two counts of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance, methamphetamine, with intent to deliver and two counts of conspiracy to possess a controlled narcotic substance, cocaine, with intent to deliver. The alleged crimes occurred on or about May 22, 2024.

Ellis Baxter Parker Jr., 60, of New Martinsville appeared for a motions hearing related to alleged sex crimes against a child. His case was waived until the next term of court. He will return for a status hearing at 2:15 p.m. Aug. 20. Baum is his attorney. Craft is prosecuting the case. Parker has already pleaded not guilty to 28 felony counts of sexual offenses against a minor female child. The crimes allegedly occurred during a one-year period between Jan. 27, 2021, and Jan. 26, 2022. Each charge allegedly occurred at separate times.

Jeremy Ryan Antrobius appeared for a status hearing related to alleged sex abuse crimes. He waived his right to a trial this term. He will next appear at 10 a.m. Sept. 23. Scott Brown is his attorney. Craft represents the state. Antrobius is accused of sexual abuse in the first degree and sexual abuse by a cutodian or person in a position of trust to a child. The crimes allegedly occurred between July 1, 2023, and October 17, 2023, in Wetzel County.

Chad Eric Morgan appeared for a status hearing related to alleged drug-related crimes. Wilson set a return date of 9:15 a.m. Aug. 20. Morgan plans to apply to the drug court program. He must be interviewed by the probation office first. White is his attorney. Craft is prosecuting the case.