A Middlebourne man pleaded guilty in front of Judge Mark A. Karl last Thursday in Tyler County Circuit Court.

Joshua Hunter, 30, of P.O. Box 508 Middlebourne appeared with Attorney Thomas E. White. Hunter was charged with a felony count of driving under the influence of alcohol (third offense), a misdemeanor charge of driving while revoked for DUI (second offense) and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person to have allegedly occurred on March 28.

On Thursday, he entered into a guilty plea and was placed on home confinement for one to three years for the felony charge and six months on the driving while revoked for DUI, second offense, to be served concurrently. He will be eligible for parole after serving one year on home confinement. The misdemeanor firearm charge was dismissed.

Karl asked Hunter what he done.

“I was drinking and driving and I shouldn’t have been,” stated Hunter. Hunter was also ordered to pay $1,000 in fines and court-appointed attorney fees.

Seven other defendants also appeared.

Douglas Carson, 50, no address given, appeared with Public Defender, John Gainer. He was charged and sentenced for failure to pay child support in 2004. After failing to report while on probation, he was apprehended in Florida on a capias warrant. His case has been continued until Dec. 17 for further proceedings.

William B. Neff, 36, of Rt. 1 Box 232 Middlebourne, and stated he will be hiring Keith Hart as his new attorney. Neff, was indicted in Oct. 2008 with manufacturing a controlled substance and was charged in Oct. 2008. Neff was released and placed on bond.

While on bond, he was apprehended in New Martinsville for a felony warrant and is currently being housed in the North Central Regional Jail. Neff is to return back on Jan. 7 at 10 a.m. His bond in Tyler County has been revoked.

George W. Ash, 46, of Rt. 1 Box 641, Greenwood, W.Va. appeared with attorney, David W. Frame.

Ash was charged with a felony count of operating or attempting to operate a clandestine drug laboratory, a felony count of possession of substances to be used as precursor to manufacture Methamphetamine and count of exposure of children to Methamphetamine manufacturing back in October.

Frame asked Karl to continue the case until the next term in Febuary to give him time to build his case. Karl granted the request and Ash is to return on Feb. 10 at 1 p.m.

Samuel Wade, 30, of HC 74 Box 13C, Alma was charged for a felony count of embezzlement and a felony count of obtaining money by false pretenses to have allegedly occurred in January of last year. Gainer stated to Karl that they are in the process of plea negotiations. His case is being continued and was ordered back on Dec. 22 at 1:15 p.m.

Robert L. Sherman, 58, of 428 Smith Ridge Road, Sistersville was charged with felony count of manufacturing of a controlled substance and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance. Motion for discovery was filed by the state and his bond is continued.

Sherman is to return on Jan. 7 at 1 p.m.

Sebastian J.E. Rosenlieb, 19, of 431 North Railroad Ave., Sistersville appeared with his attorney John Butler. Rosenlieb was charged with a felony count of attempted murder, felony count of malicious assault and a misdemeanor count of reckless driving to have allegedly occurred on Sept. 9.

Butler asked Karl to order Prosecuting Attorney Luke Furbee to release the statements of witnesses in his case. Bulter argued that this is a case of no witnesses or police officers at the scene of the crime and that they are going on “hearsay”.

Furbee then stated to Judge Karl that Butler is not entitled to them.

Butler also asked Karl to release the names of the witnesses so that he may investigate them so that he can be prepared to go to trial.

Karl ruled against the request from Butler and stated that he stands on the ruling that the statements will not be turned over until 10 days prior to trial.

Furbee had no objections to Rosenlieb’s bond being continued although he stressed that under the bond’s terms, there is to be no direct or indirect contact with the victim’s family members or witnesses in the case.

Rosenlieb’s bond was continued and he is to return on Jan. 7 at 1 p.m.

Kimberly Rial, 20, of 28 Rose Street, Lot 79 N., New Martinsville pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of breaking and entering a building other than a dwelling, one felony count of petit larceny and one misdemeanor count of destruction of property to have allegedly occurred on March 7. A motion for discovery was filed and her case has been continued until Dec. 22 at 1:15 p.m.

Jessica E. Grimes, 29, of 237 Klondike Ave., Sistersville did not appear in court on Thursday. She was charged with three felony counts of breaking and entering a building other than a dwelling and three misdemeanor charges of petit larceny to have allegedly occurred back in July.

Her attorney, Gainer, stated that she is in rehab in Northwood and her case is being continued until Dec. 22 at 1:15 p.m.