Fairmont, West Virginia, woman who rolled vehicle during Harrison police pursuit gets prison – WV News
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WV News) — A 38-year-old Fairmont woman has been sentenced to prison for her role in a police pursuit that ended with her flipping the vehicle over on U.S. 50.
Harrison Circuit Judge Christopher J. McCarthy sentenced Francesca Rochelle Strakal to 1-5 years in prison for felony fleeing with reckless indifference. The judge cited the potential of injury or death to the public and to Strakal herself.
Additionally, Strakal didn’t qualify for home incarceration, and nixed drug treatment options, according to statements during Tuesday’s hearing.
McCarthy credited Strakal with 174 days already served. She also was fined the minimum mandatory $1,000.
On Jan. 14, 2020, Strakal was a passenger in a police pursuit, but then took control of the vehicle when the driver fled it, and Strakal continued to run, Clarksburg Patrol Officer Jeremy Randolph has alleged.
Strakal crashed the vehicle, rolling it over on U.S. 50 just prior to West Virginia Avenue, Randolph has alleged.
Strakal has been jailed since tentatively testing positive in mid-May for fentanyl, morphine and meth.
Assistant Prosecutor Gina Renzelli made no recommendation on sentencing as part of the plea agreement. Attorney Tom Dyer represented Strakal.
— Judge McCarthy sentenced Eric Russel Lane, 40, of Clarksburg, to 5 years’ probation Tuesday, with drug treatment, for felony child neglect creating a substantial risk of death or serious injury.
Assistant Prosecutor Brad Pustolski made no sentencing recommendation as part of the plea deal. Defense attorney Dyer requested the alternative sentence with drug treatment.
Lane admitted having marijuana and diazepam where a 10-year-old boy could get it while Lane, under the influence of drugs, had passed out. The state alleged a loaded 12-gauge shotgun was present, too, but Lane denied knowing it was there.
Clarksburg Police Sgt. Laura McGlone led the investigation.
— Harrison Circuit Judge James A. Matish on Tuesday revoked bail for Matthew Aubrey Herrod, 31, of Salem, after hearing Herrod had tested positive for meth several times, buprenorphine once and that he possessed ammunition and a shotgun receiver.
Attorney Jerry Blair can petition for Herrod’s release to a treatment program once the defendant is cleared for admission to one, Matish ruled.
“He’s going to wake up dead if he’s not careful,” Matish said, referring to Herrod’s drug use.
Herrod is awaiting sentencing for possession with intent to deliver.
— Matish imposed a 120-day jail sanction on Travis Matthew Baldwin, 27, of Hepzibah, after he violated probation by using CBD and methamphetamine, among other allegations. Meanwhile, McCarthy gave the same sentence to Curtis Lee Meahl, 29, of Clarksburg, for violating probation through drug use and hiding from his probation officer.
Matish ordered Baldwin to find inpatient treatment. McCarthy suggested Meahl do the same, with a warning that “I think it’s fair to say you’re quickly burning through your options on probation.”
Baldwin is on probation for possession with intent to deliver marijuana; Meahl, for grand larceny.
Harrison Assistant Prosecutor James Armstrong told both judges that defendants are now receiving day-for-day good behavior credit on probation sanctions. “Probation sanctions really have no teeth any more,” Armstrong said.
— Jeffery Alan Cox, 66, of Clarksburg, has been charged with felony second-or-subsequent offense failure to comply with the state’s sex offender registry law.
Cox failed to register as required after he was released from prison Sept. 2, Trooper A.J. Trupo has alleged.
Cox was convicted for failure to register in 2010 and 2017, the complaint alleges.
— Randy Lee Moore Jr., 31, of Clarksburg, has waived his probable cause hearing before Harrison Magistrate Warren “Gizzy” Davis on a charge of access device fraud.
On May 15, Moore unlawfully using a woman’s debit card, and bought a $10 jacket from the Milford Street Dollar General, Clarksburg Patrol Officer B.L. Kirkpatrick has alleged.
— Patricia Ann Carpenter, 35, of Clarksburg, has waived her probable cause hearing before Harrison Magistrate Frank DeMarco on a charge of felony third-offense driving on an operator’s license suspended or revoked for DUI.
On Dec. 23, Carpenter drove unlawfully on U.S. 19 near Rose Bud Plaza, Harrison Sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Deem has alleged.
— Lucas Samuel Talerico, 32, of Shinnston, has been charged with felony possession with intent to deliver by Bridgeport Patrol Officer William Townsend.
During a traffic stop Tuesday on Interstate 79 in Bridgeport, Talerico possessed marijuana and multiple other presumed drugs, along with over $500 in cash, Townsend alleged.
Weiss held the initial appearance.
— David Allen Smith, 32, and Cathy Lynn Ewers, 47, both of Shinnston, have been charged with possession with intent to deliver by Shinnston Patrol Officer Travis Layton.
Weiss held the initial appearances.
— Jonel Dawn Keener, 27, of Fairmont, has been charged with felony false evidence, forgery, etc. of title and registration.
On Monday on Meadowbrook Road near the Exxon station, Keener was driving a silver Cadillac sedan with a registration assigned to a Jeep Patriot, Bridgeport Patrol Officer Zacharie Davisson has alleged.
Patrol Officer Isaac Thomas III assisted.
Weiss held the initial appearance.
