On April 3, Anthony Lewis Jones pled guilty in Braxton County Circuit Court to the felony offense of possession with intent to deliver fentanyl. Judge Jasmine R. H. Morton presided over the case.
On April 21, 2024, Jones, who was on parole at the time, was at his home in Braxton County. Parole officers with the WV Division of Corrections, assisted by WV State Police Trooper A. L. Groves went to the home to conduct a parole compliance check. While conducting the check the officers located 6.7 grams of fentanyl, scales, packaging materials, other drug paraphernalia and $2,080.00 in cash.
Jones’ parole was revoked. He now faces an additional 3 to 15 years in prison at his sentencing set for May 23, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.
On April 4, Rodney Brian Dobbins pled guilty in Braxton County Circuit Court to murder in the first degree for the stabbing death of his wife, Donna K. Dobbins.
During the plea hearing, Braxton County Prosecuting Attorney, Dwayne Vandevender told Judge Michael W. Asbury, Jr. that, on December 12, 2022, Deputy Andrew Jordan of the Braxton County Sheriff’s Department, along with additional deputies and members of the West Virginia State Police were dispatched to the Dobbins home near Frametown, regarding a stabbing. Upon arriving at the home the officers found the defendant holding a bloody kitchen knife and standing over the body of his deceased wife.
Vandevender told the Court that the West Virginia Medical Examiner’s office determined that Donna Dobbins had died from stab wounds that were caused by a sharp instrument, consistent with the knife the defendant was found holding. The defendant admitted to stabbing his wife and said that he was afraid for his life due to the manner in which she had been driving when they were in the car before arriving at their home. The defendant said he had gone inside and retrieved the knife which he used to stab his wife. The defendant told the officers “I shouldn’t have did what I did.”
After the defendant entered his plea, his attorney, Summersville lawyer, James R. Milam, II, requested that the Court proceed immediately to sentencing. The State did not object to the request. Judge Asbury sentenced the defendant to life in prison. He will be eligible to see the parole board and request parole after serving a minimum of 15 years.
On April 4, Joshua Bly Miller pled guilty to the felony offense of possession of material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, before Braxton County Circuit Judge Michael W. Asbury, Jr.
The charges arose from an incident which began as an investigation of sexual abuse allegations in September 2024. Cpl. C. D. Harper of the West Virginia State Police, Internet Crimes Against Children Unit was assisting the Gilmer County WVSP Detachment. During the investigation, Cpl. Harper obtained a search warrant for a cellular telephone which the defendant had with him at the Central Regional Jail, where he worked.
After the telephone was seized it was sent to the WV State Police Digital Forensic lab for analysis. The lab located a three minute long video depicting what appeared to be an approximately 8-year-old female engaged in sexual actives with a male juvenile. The video had been illegally downloaded from an internet site.
Miller faces 2 to 10 years in prison and up to 50 years of extended supervision as a convicted sex offenders upon his release from incarceration. Additionally, he will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. His sentencing is tentatively set for June 9, at 2: 20 p.m.
The State was represented by Braxton County Prosecuting Attorney, Dwayne Vandevender. The defendant was represented by Charleston attorney, Andrew Chattin.
On April 4, 2025, Mackenzie Jo Wimer entered a plea of guilty to the felony charge of Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine in Braxton County Circuit Court.
Wimer had been indicted for two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, arising from incidents that occurred on July 1, 2023 and February 3, 2024 in Braxton County.
During the July, 2023 incident the Wimer was the passenger in a vehicle during a traffic stop conducted by Trooper J. R. Garrett of the Sutton Detachment of the West Virginia State Police. During the stop Tpr. Garrett found Wimer to be in possession of approximately 3 grams of fentanyl, paraphernalia used for packaging controlled substances and approximately $1,691.00 in cash.
During the February, 2024 incident, Tpr. A. L. Groves received information that Wimer was selling drugs from her home in Gassaway. Tpr. Groves went to her residence and discovered approximately 4 grams of methamphetamine.
The State agreed to dismiss the possession with intent to deliver fentanyl in exchange for the plea of guilty to possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine. Wimer faces a possible 1 to 15 years in prison when she is sentenced by Judge Michael W. Asbury, Jr. on June 9, at 2:10 p.m.
The State was represented by Braxton County Prosecuting Attorney, Dwayne Vandevender. Clarksburg lawyer, Timothy Gentilozzi represented the defendant.
On April 4, Aaron Joseph Fraley pled guilty to the felony of Entering a Building other than a Dwelling before Braxton County Circuit Judge, Michael W. Asbury, Jr.
The charges arose from an incident in June 2024 where Fraley, a former employee of the Town of Gassaway entered the Gassaway City Building after hours and stole a purchasing card that belonged to the Town. Fraley then used the purchasing card to make various purchases.
The State agreed to dismiss the felony of fraudulent use of a credit card and misdemeanor petit larceny charge in exchange for the plea.
Fraley’s faces a possible one to ten years in prison. He will be sentenced on June 9, at 2:30 p.m.
The State was represented by Braxton County Prosecutor, Dwayne Vandevender. The defendant was represented by Sutton attorney, David Karickhoff.