Pachuta pleas to battery

Joseph M. Pachuta pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of domestic battery on Sept. 24.
Joseph M. Pachuta, 48, of H.C. 60 Box 116, Lima, had a lucky day in court, as Judge Mark Karl ruled to dismiss the felony charges against him.
Pachuta was charged with one felony count of kidnapping and one misdemeanor count of domestic battery on Feb. 25 after he allegedly held hostage one female victim in his home, barring her from leaving. He was indicted on the charges by a grand jury on June 9.
However, on Sept. 24, Karl dismissed the felony charge, allowing Pachuta to plead guilty to the lesser charge of domestic battery due to issues with witnesses in the case.
He was sentenced to one year of probation with credit for time served. Pachuta had been on home confinement since his arrest in February.
The alleged victim in the case was in agreement with the resolution.
Also appearing was William B. Neff, 36, of 262 Locust Street, New Martinsville.
Neff was charged with one felony count of manufacturing a controlled substance and was indicted in October 2008. At that time he was not considered a flight risk and was given one wee to secure money for bail. But, Neff failed to post bail and failed to appear at his next hearing. Subsequently, a capias warrant was issued and Neff was entered into a national crime database used to locate fugitives.
In the meantime, Deputies J.K Maston and J.L. Richardson from the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office received information that Neff had been living in various places throughout Tyler County.
He was eventually apprehended at his father’s home on Elk Fork, near Kidwell.
Neff was arraigned earlier this month, but returned to court on Sept. 24 with a request to hire his own attorney. He was previously represented by the Public Defender Corporation. Karl continued the hearing to give Neff time to procure his own attorney.
He continues to be housed in the North Central Regional Jail in Greenwood pending court proceedings.