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Defendants sentenced to prison for drug charges

By Staff | Apr 6, 2011

Two people were sentenced to West Virginia state correctional facilities Monday morning in Tyler County Circuit Court.

Amber Lewis, 19, of Sistersville, appeared before Judge David W. Hummel, Jr. represented by her attorney, John Gainer, to face two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (marijuana). Lewis pleaded guilty to one count of felony possession per a plea agreement. The second felony charge was dropped.

According to the prosecution, Lewis sold a quarter ounce of marijuana to a confidential informant on June 3, 2010.

“The state’s evidence is pretty staight-forward,” declared D. Luke Furbee, speaking for the proseuction.

“There is a recording of the buy, and she was witnessed covertly a deputy of the Sistersville Police Department as well,” he informed the judge.

When asked by the judge to explain her actions to the court, Lewis claimed culpability for the crime,

“I did the crime. I sold some marijuana. I did it as a favor for someone else. I don’t do it (smoke marijuana),” she admitted.

Judge Hummel sentenced Lews to not less than one nor more than five years in prison, with a possibility of probation. She was immediately remanded in custody.

Also sentenced to state prison was Zachary J. Ferrebee, age 21, who appeared with his attorney, John Gainer, to answer charges of one count, felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (marijuana). Ferrebee accepted a plea agreement and was sentenced to not less than one nor more than five years in prison, with a possibility of probation.

Ferrebee was also arrested as the result of a controlled buy. “I got a text message on my phone and was asked if I could find anything (marijuana). I said yes,” he stated to the court. The buy was made at the Marathon gas station in Paden City and observed by law enforcement officers.

“I don’t know why I did it,” he admitted. “I am going to straighten up and stay clean. I’m clean now and I am going to stay that way.” Ferrebee was given credit for time served (8 days) and was told to self report at noon on April 7.

Mary P. Bennett, formerly of Middlebourne, appeared with her attorney, John Gainer, charged with one count felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (hydrocodone-acetaminophen). Withdrawing an earlier plea of not guilty, the defense waived the reading of the indictment.

Bennett accepted a plea agreement from the state and admitted she accepted money in exchange for 50 Vicodin tablets. Judge Hummel sentenced Bennett to not less than one nor more than five years in prison, with alternative sentencing of one year home confinement. Bennett, who is now a resident of Wetzel County, was told to report to the Adult Probation Officer to begin her sentence Wednesday.

Connie Anderson, West Union, entered into a plea agreement with the state and was sentenced to one year in jail (suspended) and was placed on one year supervised probation.

Anderson pleaded guilty to misdemeanor petit larceny for her part in a burglary that occurred in 2010.

“I knew my children stole stuff and brought it into my house,” confessed Bennett.

Bennett was also ordered to pay $340 in restitution to the victim, Tressie Phillips. As a condition of her probation, Judge Hummel ordered Bennett not to associate with any convicted felons. However, the judge granted Bennett permission to see her daughter (who is a convicted felon). Bennett’s husband must be present during visitation.

Joshua D. Berryman, indicted on one count felony delivery of a controlled substance (marijuana) was ordered to stand trial on June 21. Berryman is currently incarcerated in North Central Regional Jail on a previous charge of malicious wounding.

A capias order was issued for Michael Richard Riggle, who failed to appear in court.

Defendants sentenced to prison for drug charges

By Staff | Apr 6, 2011

Two people were sentenced to West Virginia state correctional facilities Monday morning in Tyler County Circuit Court.

Amber Lewis, 19, of Sistersville, appeared before Judge David W. Hummel, Jr. represented by her attorney, John Gainer, to face two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (marijuana). Lewis pleaded guilty to one count of felony possession per a plea agreement. The second felony charge was dropped.

According to the prosecution, Lewis sold a quarter ounce of marijuana to a confidential informant on June 3, 2010.

“The state’s evidence is pretty staight-forward,” declared D. Luke Furbee, speaking for the proseuction.

“There is a recording of the buy, and she was witnessed covertly a deputy of the Sistersville Police Department as well,” he informed the judge.

When asked by the judge to explain her actions to the court, Lewis claimed culpability for the crime,

“I did the crime. I sold some marijuana. I did it as a favor for someone else. I don’t do it (smoke marijuana),” she admitted.

Judge Hummel sentenced Lews to not less than one nor more than five years in prison, with a possibility of probation. She was immediately remanded in custody.

Also sentenced to state prison was Zachary J. Ferrebee, age 21, who appeared with his attorney, John Gainer, to answer charges of one count, felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (marijuana). Ferrebee accepted a plea agreement and was sentenced to not less than one nor more than five years in prison, with a possibility of probation.

Ferrebee was also arrested as the result of a controlled buy. “I got a text message on my phone and was asked if I could find anything (marijuana). I said yes,” he stated to the court. The buy was made at the Marathon gas station in Paden City and observed by law enforcement officers.

“I don’t know why I did it,” he admitted. “I am going to straighten up and stay clean. I’m clean now and I am going to stay that way.” Ferrebee was given credit for time served (8 days) and was told to self report at noon on April 7.

Mary P. Bennett, formerly of Middlebourne, appeared with her attorney, John Gainer, charged with one count felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver (hydrocodone-acetaminophen). Withdrawing an earlier plea of not guilty, the defense waived the reading of the indictment.

Bennett accepted a plea agreement from the state and admitted she accepted money in exchange for 50 Vicodin tablets. Judge Hummel sentenced Bennett to not less than one nor more than five years in prison, with alternative sentencing of one year home confinement. Bennett, who is now a resident of Wetzel County, was told to report to the Adult Probation Officer to begin her sentence Wednesday.

Connie Anderson, West Union, entered into a plea agreement with the state and was sentenced to one year in jail (suspended) and was placed on one year supervised probation.

Anderson pleaded guilty to misdemeanor petit larceny for her part in a burglary that occurred in 2010.

“I knew my children stole stuff and brought it into my house,” confessed Bennett.

Bennett was also ordered to pay $340 in restitution to the victim, Tressie Phillips. As a condition of her probation, Judge Hummel ordered Bennett not to associate with any convicted felons. However, the judge granted Bennett permission to see her daughter (who is a convicted felon). Bennett’s husband must be present during visitation.

Joshua D. Berryman, indicted on one count felony delivery of a controlled substance (marijuana) was ordered to stand trial on June 21. Berryman is currently incarcerated in North Central Regional Jail on a previous charge of malicious wounding.

A capias order was issued for Michael Richard Riggle, who failed to appear in court.