Calhoun Circuit Court convened with Judge Anita Ashley, who was on live tv remotely from Roane County.
The first defendant of the day was Edward Fields, represented by Attorney Daniel Minardi. Fields appeared for arraignment at which time he entered a plea of not guilty, which was accepted and entered into record by Judge Ashley.
Fields, facing the charges of “Failure to Appear after having been released on bond and Receiving Stolen Property in case 23M07M00145 and 23M07M00023.
Attorney Minardi made a motion, asking that Edward Fields bail be reinstated or modified to allow his release for treatment. Judge Ashley then ask if the defendant had a bed in a rehab facility, to which Minardi responded that he did not but that they were making the necessary arrangement and believed that he would be admitted within a week if released.
Prosecuting Attorney Michael Hicks made no objection, but did state that prior to this event he was being held on a parole violation and within a few weeks of being on home confinement was in violation with methamphetamine.
Judge Ashley agreed that Fields would be released upon confirmation of a bed being secured in a rehabilitation facility. The case was continued to September 5, 2024 at 9 am for Pretrial with a trial date set for October 22nd, 2024 at 9 a.m.
Mr. Fields is also facing charges in both Roane and Jackson County’s as well.
Case 24M07M00019, State of WV vs. Parks Allen Metheney was the second case of the day. Metheney is facing Domestic Battery second Offense and Strangulation charge stemming from a March 10th, 2024 event. Appearing with Defense Attorney Daniel Minardi, Mr. Metheney entered a plea of not guilty. A Pretrial was set for September 5, 2024 at 9 a.m. and a Trial was set for October 22nd, 2024 at 9 a.m.
Jeffrey Allen Brannon also appeared with Defense Attorney Daniel Minardi for arraignment in relation to the March 4th, 2024 bus accident, case 24M07M00007, that resulted in multiple children being injured, some of those critically. Brannon faces the charges of “Driving Under the Influence Causing serious injury, and Child Neglect Causing Serious Injury,” – multiple counts of each charge. He entered a plea of not guilty before Judge Anita Ashley, at which time Attorney Minardi informed Judge Ashley that he was not prepared to have the case heard in this current term of court because of the the required reading of thousands of pages of discovery, for which Prosecuting Attorney Michael Hicks also agreed. The case was continued for Pretrial on September 5th, 2024 with a December trial date.
Attorney Minardi also requested that there be a reduction of the $750,000 bond stating that he understood the seriousness of the allegations but felt that he could justify a reduction to $100,000 cash or surety without home incarceration because Mr. Brannon had a non existent criminal history. Prosecuting Attorney Michael Hicks opposed the reduction stating that the carnage the defendant had inflicted on the community could not be measured and the lengthy term of incarceration for which Brannon faces would make him a flight risk. Judge Ashley agreed and did not modify the defendants bond.
Circuit Court continues this afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
I feel like there was a case or two that was on the scheduled docket for Tuesday July 23, 2024 that did not get put in for what happened in circuit court with Honorable Judge Anita Ashley. I have noticed ridgeview news has been leaving cases out(off record) more these days.
You’ll have to advise me of the names of who you think was left off. Because as far as I know, every case that was heard, I listed
Ryan Snider and Travis Sampson were both on the docket but not mentioned in what happened in circuit court that day. I would like to know why.
Also what happened to citizens being held accountable posting? Did it just stop after Nigel Jefferies left?
I was in court from beginning to end, and neither of those cases were brought before the court. You would need to contact the judge’s office to enquire as to why.