A man who failed to register as a sex offender received a 10-25 year prison sentence handed down by Wetzel County Circuit Court Richard Wilson during an April 16 hearing .

Charles T. Davis Jr. of Woodsfield was sentenced by Wilson for 10-25 years in prison after failing to register as a sex offender, second offense. Wilson said while failing to register is a simple mistake, Davis had done so several times in the past. He is facing a similar charge in Harrison County.

Davis said his latest failure to register occurred after he got out of jail and he began using drugs with his girlfriend. After leaving jail, offenders have three days to register with the West Virginia State Police, and Davis failed to do this.

“It was my responsibility,” Davis said. “I’ve had so much bad in my life. I need to show myself that I can do it. I’m tired of failing over and over. … I’m 48 years old. It’s horrible.”

Wilson ordered Davis to pay court costs and fees. Wilson said he would recommend him for the prison’s Getting Over Addictive Lifestyles Successfully program.

Davis originally pleaded not guilty to seven felony counts of failure to register as a sex offender, second offense, and failure to update sex offender registry information, second offense. The charges allegedly occurred during 2023 and 2024. Haught dropped the six other counts as part of the plea agreement.

Wilson also presided over the following hearings on April 16:

A status hearing was held for Edward Curtis during which Curtis requested being released from the Hope Center early.

Wetzel County Prosecutor Timothy Haught recommended that Curtis remain in treatment at the center until it is complete. He noted this was part of the probation agreement with the court. Wilson agreed and denied Curtis’ request.

“You’re making good progress. … You’re asking to be out from a watchful eye,” Wilson said. “I think people should be held to the deals they make.”

Curtis said one of the reasons he wanted to leave the center was so that he could keep his full paychecks from his employer. He noted the center takes the entire amount. Wilson said the probation office would look into the Hope Center’s policies regarding patients’ paychecks.

Curtis’ attorney was Dean Williams who joined the hearing via speaker phone.

Jason Earl Higginbotham, 39, of Shinnstown, W.Va., was sentenced by Wilson 1-3 years in prison for driving while revoked DUI third offense. He has already pleaded guilty to the crime, which occurred on or about July 6, 2024, in Wetzel County. Before being sentenced Higginbotham’s attorney Andy Mendelson said Higginbotham has a job lined up and a place to live with his girlfriend. Higginbotham requested that he serve his time in home confinement instead of jail. Mendelson said he already had the money needed to pay for the anklet, $350, and could pay the monthly fee of $300.

Haught said he was not opposed to Higginbotham serving his sentence in home confinement as it would help him keep the county’s jail bill down.

“Last month, $49,000 was Wetzel County’s regional jail bill and the department of corrections bill was even more,” Haught said.

Haught noted, however, that he does not understand why people do not come up with the money to get their driver’s licenses back, first. Instead, he noted, many people drive without a license, get caught and then have to pay court fines and fees and face jail time.

Before receiving his sentence, Higginbotham asked for another chance, noting he planned to enter a DUI class in order to get his license back. He also noted has been sober for the last three months and he has a good chance of securing a new job.

“How many judges have you told this?” Wilson said. “I’m not buying it.”

In addition to the jail time, Wilson ordered that Higginbotham pay a $1,500 fine and be given credit for time served. He wished Higginbotham well.

A status hearing for Chelsea Marie Cochran of Marietta, Ohio, was rescheduled for 9:30 a.m. April 24 to allow officials to determine how to align her court outcomes in West Virginia with a charge she is facing in Washington County, Ohio. Cochran already pleaded not guilty to a direct presentment charging her with four felony counts of possession of controlled illegal drugs with intent to deliver. The crimes allegedly occurred on or about April 19, 2024, in Wetzel County. She is also facing felony charges in Wood and Doddridge counties. Haught is prosecuting the case. Roger Curry is her attorney.

Dalton Roy Coen of Burton, W.Va., was facing a petition to revoke his probation after his urine tested positive for drugs during a screening. Wilson modified Coen’s to allow him to attend drug court. He must stay on a GPS monitor. Haught noted Coen has no prior felony convictions. His attorney is Scott Brown. Coen originally agreed to a deferred plea agreement on the charge of grand larceny via an Alford Kennedy plea. Wilson originally ordered Coen to three years of supervision by the probation office. Coen was originally charged by the September 2024 Grand Jury in a one count felony indictment of grand larceny. The crime allegedly occurred on or about April 14, 2024, in Wetzel County.

Wilson continued a status hearing for Ashley Yoders of Littleton, W.Va., until 9:30 a.m. April 24. He ordered that lawyer John Yurko be assigned as her public defender as her former attorney Dean Williams was no longer available. She was recently arrested on a capias warrant.

Andrew Sutherland, 29, pleaded guilty to an information plea for possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. Wilson ordered Sutherland to 1-15 years in prison. He will be given credit for time served, 280 days.

Haught said if the case had gone to trial evidence would have shown that Sutherland was pulled over during a traffic stop. This stop led to a search of his hotel room where meth was found. Meth was also found on Sutherland, he said. A witness, he said, would have testified that they purchased the drug from Sutherland.

As part of the plea, Sutherland admitted to the crime.

“I committed the offense. I made a mistake; it’s the worst decision I ever made,” he said.

Sutherland’s attorney is Pete Kurelac.

A hearing for John Wesley Park Jr. was rescheduled for 9:45 a.m. April 24. He was originally scheduled to appear on April 16 before Wilson, but he was not brought to the courthouse by the prison transport.