Justia Criminal Law Opinion Summaries

In 2021, Scott Michael Andrew Hundley fatally stabbed Thomas Cekada Jr. after an altercation. Hundley claimed self-defense, stating that Cekada had brandished a firearm at him twice, once at a Dollar General store and later during a car collision on Mountain Mission Road. Hundley was indicted for first-degree murder by the Jefferson County Grand Jury.The Circuit Court of Jefferson County held a pre-trial hearing where Hundley’s motion to suppress his statements to law enforcement was denied. The court found that Hundley’s statement about needing a lawyer was equivocal and that he was not in custody at the time. The court also granted the State’s motion to exclude evidence of Cekada’s drug use, ruling it irrelevant without expert testimony linking the drugs to irrational behavior. The court denied the State’s request to introduce evidence of Hundley’s prior stabbing incident under Rule 404(b).At trial, the State presented testimony from officers and witnesses, including evidence that Cekada’s hands were bloody but his firearm was not. Hundley testified, reiterating his self-defense claim. The court allowed the State to argue in rebuttal that the lack of blood on the firearm disproved Hundley’s self-defense claim. The jury found Hundley guilty of second-degree murder, and he was sentenced to forty-five years in prison, including a recidivist enhancement.The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia reviewed the case and found no abuse of discretion in the circuit court’s evidentiary rulings, including the exclusion of the toxicology report and text messages about Cekada’s drug use. The court also upheld the circuit court’s control over closing arguments and found no prosecutorial misconduct or Brady violations. The court affirmed Hundley’s conviction and sentence. View "State v. Hundley" on Justia Law

Brian Allen Merchant Jones was indicted for conspiracy to commit felony controlled substance offenses, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and involuntary manslaughter after he shot and killed his friend, Zackerie Howser, on September 15, 2020. The victim and Jones were involved in drug trafficking, and the shooting occurred shortly after Jones arrived at the victim's home to deliver methamphetamine. Jones pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and involuntary manslaughter but proceeded to trial on the conspiracy and firearm charges.The Circuit Court of Marion County convicted Jones of conspiracy to commit felony controlled substance offenses and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Jones filed post-trial motions for judgment of acquittal and a new trial, which were denied. He was sentenced to fifteen years for conspiracy, ten years for use of a firearm, five years for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and one year for involuntary manslaughter.The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia reviewed the case and affirmed the lower court's decision. The court held that the hearsay testimony regarding the victim's statements about drug sales was admissible under Rule 804(b)(3) as statements against interest by an unavailable declarant. The court also found that the prosecutor's comments about Jones's flight during closing arguments, although improper, did not render the trial unfair. The court concluded that the evidence of Jones's involvement in the drug conspiracy and the use of a firearm during the commission of a felony was sufficient to support his convictions. The court affirmed the circuit court's judgment and sentencing order. View "State v. Jones" on Justia Law

The petitioner was convicted in the Circuit Court of Barbour County, West Virginia, of multiple counts of sexual assault, sexual abuse, and displaying obscene material to a minor. The charges stemmed from disclosures made by an eight-year-old girl, C.M., who described being sexually assaulted by the petitioner, her mother's boyfriend. The petitioner was sentenced to an effective term of 115 to 375 years in prison.The trial was initially set for January 2020 but was continued multiple times, with the final trial date set for July 2021. The petitioner moved for a continuance to investigate new disclosures by C.M. and to conduct a psychological evaluation of her, which the court denied. During the trial, the court admitted evidence of the petitioner’s internet search history for child pornography under Rule 404(b) without giving a limiting instruction to the jury. The jury convicted the petitioner on all counts.The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia reviewed the case. The court found that the Rule 404(b) evidence was properly admitted after thorough consideration and that the failure to give a limiting instruction was not plain error. The court also held that the denial of the continuance for a psychological evaluation was not an abuse of discretion, as the petitioner failed to show a compelling need for it. The court declined to address the petitioner’s claims regarding the jury questions and due process violations due to the lack of a complete record and suggested these issues could be developed in post-conviction proceedings.The court affirmed the petitioner’s convictions, finding no reversible error in the trial court’s decisions. View "State of West Virginia v. Keith Jason Walker" on Justia Law

The case involves the defendant, Andrew Jackson McCauley, Jr., who was convicted of first-degree murder, death of a child by a custodian, and concealment of a deceased human body. The victim, R.C., a fifteen-year-old girl, lived with her mother, brothers, and the defendant. R.C. was last seen alive on May 7, 2019. Her body was discovered on May 16, 2019, in a rural area. Evidence included blood and saliva found in her bedroom, and circumstantial evidence linking the defendant to the crime scene, such as drywall mud and roofing screws found near the body and in the defendant's truck.The Circuit Court of Morgan County denied the defendant's motion for a change of venue, finding that an impartial jury could be seated despite pretrial publicity. The court also admitted expert testimony from a cadaver dog handler, which the defendant challenged on the grounds of reliability and potential prejudice. The court found the testimony admissible, noting the handler's extensive qualifications and the corroborative circumstantial evidence.The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia reviewed the case and affirmed the lower court's decisions. The court held that the defendant failed to demonstrate that pretrial publicity created a hostile sentiment that would prevent a fair trial. The court also upheld the admission of the cadaver dog evidence, finding it met the reliability and relevance standards under Rule 702 and Daubert. Finally, the court found sufficient evidence to support the convictions, including the defendant's erratic behavior, false statements, and physical evidence linking him to the crime. The court concluded that the jury could reasonably find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. View "State v. McCauley" on Justia Law

Kyle John Schober was convicted of possessing a controlled substance with intent to deliver after a traffic stop revealed marijuana, THC extract, and cocaine in his vehicle. He was sentenced to one-to-fifteen years imprisonment, suspended in favor of five years of probation, with conditions including drug treatment and random drug screens.Schober later obtained a medical cannabis identification card under the West Virginia Medical Cannabis Act and sought to modify his probation conditions to allow the use of medical cannabis. The Circuit Court of Berkeley County denied his initial motion, finding insufficient evidence of a valid PTSD diagnosis and treatment. Schober filed a renewed motion with additional documentation, but the court again denied the motion, questioning the validity of his medical cannabis card and finding that his use of cannabis would not support his rehabilitation or community safety.The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia reviewed the case and affirmed the lower court's decision. The court held that the West Virginia Cannabis Act does not supersede West Virginia Code § 62-12-9, which allows courts to impose conditions on probation, including prohibiting the use of marijuana. The court found no conflict between the statutes and concluded that probation conditions can restrict otherwise lawful conduct to support rehabilitation and public safety. Additionally, the court noted that Schober's possession of marijuana would violate federal law, specifically the Controlled Substances Act, and thus violate the conditions of his probation under West Virginia Code § 62-12-9(a)(1). View "State of West Virginia v. Schober" on Justia Law

Stephen Cross, the defendant in the underlying action, sought a writ of prohibition to prevent the Circuit Court of Randolph County from enforcing its order denying the State’s motion to dismiss an indictment charging him with murder and using a firearm during the commission of a felony. The State’s motion to dismiss asserted that Cross’s actions were justified by self-defense and that there was no evidence to prove otherwise beyond a reasonable doubt. The circuit court denied the motion, reasoning that the case must proceed to trial to avoid public misconception and because a grand jury had returned the indictment.Previously, the Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney recused himself due to a conflict of interest, and the court appointed Brian Hinkle as special prosecuting attorney. Hinkle later sought to withdraw, citing a conflict of interest and his belief that prosecuting Cross would result in a manifest injustice. The court allowed Hinkle to withdraw and appointed John Ours as the new special prosecutor. Ours filed a motion to dismiss the indictment, citing insufficient evidence to disprove self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt. The circuit court denied this motion, emphasizing the need for a jury trial to address public perception and the grand jury’s indictment.The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia granted the writ of prohibition in part, finding that the circuit court clearly erred and exceeded its legitimate powers by denying the State’s motion to dismiss. The court held that when the State seeks a dismissal and the defendant consents, the court must determine whether the dismissal is consistent with the public interest in the fair administration of justice. A dismissal meets this standard if the State acts in good faith at the time it seeks dismissal. The court found that the State acted in good faith and that the circuit court improperly substituted its judgment for that of the prosecution. The writ was denied in part regarding the circuit court’s orders sealing certain documents and precluding public discussion of the case. View "State ex rel. Cross v. Wilmoth" on Justia Law

In 2001, Barry White was convicted of multiple sexual offenses against his four minor stepchildren. The children did not testify at trial due to their young age and psychological evaluations indicating they were not capable of doing so. Instead, their statements were admitted through the testimony of professionals who had interviewed them. White was sentenced to a minimum of 100 years in prison. His direct appeal and several habeas corpus petitions were denied.White filed a new habeas petition in 2017, claiming newly discovered evidence. He presented transcripts of interviews with three of the now-adult victims, who either denied remembering the abuse or stated it did not happen. The Circuit Court of Mercer County granted White's petition, finding that the new testimonies constituted recantations and warranted a new trial.The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia reviewed the case. The court noted that the circuit court's analysis was overly simplistic, focusing mainly on the fact that the victims did not testify at the original trial. The Supreme Court emphasized the need for a thorough analysis of the credibility and reliability of the recantations, considering the victims' prior inconsistent statements and the other evidence presented at trial, such as physical evidence of abuse and White's incriminating jail letters.The Supreme Court found that the circuit court failed to make specific findings of fact and conclusions of law as required by West Virginia Code § 53-4A-7(c). The court vacated the circuit court's order and remanded the case for further proceedings, instructing the lower court to conduct a detailed analysis of the newly discovered evidence in accordance with the established legal standards. View "Frame v. White" on Justia Law

In September 2020, Child Protective Services removed twelve-year-old Z.S. and her siblings from their home due to domestic violence allegations against their stepfather, Michael J. In May 2021, Z.S. disclosed to her aunt and therapist that Michael J. had sexually abused her. Subsequently, Michael J. was indicted on multiple sexual offense charges, including second-degree sexual assault and incest. During the trial, the prosecution relied heavily on Z.S.'s testimony, as there was no physical evidence. Michael J. denied the allegations and testified in his defense, supported by his wife, who claimed he was never alone with Z.S. However, Z.S.'s sister contradicted this, stating they were often left alone with him.The Circuit Court of Fayette County allowed the prosecution to ask potential jurors during voir dire if they would convict Michael J. based solely on Z.S.'s testimony if they found it believable. All potential jurors agreed. Michael J. objected, but the court overruled the objection. The jury found Michael J. guilty on all charges, and he was sentenced to 61 to 145 years in prison. Michael J. appealed, arguing that the voir dire question was improper and prejudiced the jury.The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia reviewed the case and concluded that the prosecution's voir dire question was an improper commitment question. It violated Michael J.'s constitutional right to an impartial jury by asking jurors to pledge to convict based on the victim's testimony alone, without considering the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The court found that this likely prejudiced the jury and reversed the lower court's decision, remanding the case for a new trial. View "State of West Virginia v Michael J." on Justia Law

In 1989, Johnny Miller was convicted of first-degree murder for the shooting of his girlfriend, Lorelei Reed. Miller claimed the shooting was accidental and that he was intoxicated at the time. The State offered a plea deal for second-degree murder, which Miller's trial counsel advised against, leading Miller to reject the offer. Miller was subsequently convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without mercy.Miller's conviction was affirmed on direct appeal, and his subsequent habeas corpus petitions were denied. In his first habeas petition in 1993, Miller argued ineffective assistance of trial counsel for advising him to reject the plea offer. The Circuit Court of Raleigh County denied relief, finding that trial counsel's performance was not deficient. This decision was upheld on appeal. In 2002, Miller filed another habeas petition, again claiming ineffective assistance of trial counsel. The court found the claim barred by res judicata but also concluded on the merits that trial counsel's performance was not deficient.In 2012, Miller filed his fifth habeas petition, citing the Supreme Court's decision in Lafler v. Cooper, which addressed ineffective assistance of counsel during plea negotiations. The Circuit Court of Raleigh County granted relief, finding that Lafler represented a change in the law that allowed Miller's claim to proceed despite previous denials.The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia reversed the circuit court's decision. The court held that Lafler did not represent a change in the law that would affect Miller's case because West Virginia already recognized the right to effective counsel during plea negotiations. The court found that previous rulings correctly applied the standard for ineffective assistance of counsel and that Miller's claim was barred by res judicata. View "Frame v. Miller" on Justia Law

In May 2019, a fire in Davisville resulted in the deaths of Robert and Charlotte Taylor and injuries to a child. Sixteen-year-old M.W., the Taylors' daughter, was interviewed by Deputy Fire Marshal Jason Baltic at the scene. During the interview, M.W. confessed to starting the fire using gasoline. M.W. was subsequently indicted for first-degree murder, attempted murder, and arson. She moved to suppress her confession, arguing that she had not voluntarily waived her Miranda rights and that her confession was coerced. The circuit court denied the motion, and the case proceeded to trial, where the jury found M.W. guilty on all counts.The Circuit Court of Wood County denied M.W.'s motion to suppress her confession, finding that she had knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived her Miranda rights. The court also found that her confession was not coerced. M.W. later filed an emergency motion to reconsider the suppression ruling, citing a Brady violation due to the late disclosure of Deputy Sheriff Tasha Hewitt's past untruthfulness. The circuit court denied this motion, stating that Baltic's testimony was credible and sufficient to establish that M.W. had been read her Miranda rights.The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia reviewed the case and affirmed the circuit court's decisions. The court held that M.W. had knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waived her Miranda rights, considering her age, intelligence, and the circumstances of the interview. The court also found that her confession was not coerced, as Baltic's interview techniques did not overbear her will. Additionally, the court ruled that the late disclosure of Hewitt's past untruthfulness did not constitute a Brady violation that would have changed the outcome of the suppression hearing. Finally, the court upheld the jury's verdict, finding sufficient evidence to support M.W.'s convictions. View "State v. M.W." on Justia Law