Pritts Murder Trial Verdict

Walter Pritts has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Yolanda Renee Lear and battery, a misdemeanor, against John Cheshire.

Involuntary manslaughter, according to the state code, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison and/or up to a $1,000 fine while battery, also a misdemeanor, is punishable by up to one year in prison and/or up to a $500 fine.

Anyone who knew the defendant also knew it only a matter of time before one of his victims of domestic violence would become a fatality. One thing I find terribly confusing is a few of his former victims came to his aid and not only defended him but proclaimed his innocence.

Based on the evidence presented and his own admission, Pritts should have been found guilty of no less than voluntary manslaughter for which he would be serving three to fifteen years. Yet, the jury, after only a few hours of deliberation, saw fit to give him misdemeanor sentences which will allow him to go free possibly as soon as his sentencing in September. On the other hand, Renee Lear's children and family have been given a life sentence of dealing with her tragic death and missing her in their lives.

Did Pritts intentionally kill Renee Lear? Know one knows except him. However, his actions directly led to her death. He can blame the alcohol or even come up with some other lame excuse for beating her, but it all comes down to the fact that he is a murderer who is guilty of her death and should have been convicted of the same.

I've often heard it said that a person can get by with murder if they have a good lawyer. Today's verdict proves that to be correct.

I wonder if Walter Pritts and Dan James are sleeping well tonight knowing they're responsible for taking justice away from three little boys whose mother's life was stolen from them.

Who's Pot Was It?

Several months ago a large amount of marijuana was seized by law enforcement behind Springfield Elementary School, but no arrest was ever made in the case. All of the evidence pointed to someone local and close enough to tend to the crop frequently.

Since that time, the local pot farmer responsible has grown comfortable enough to not only admit ownership of the crop to his friends and others but also boasts at his ability to have avoided the arrest for the crime.

What kind of person (and I use the term person very loosely in this case) would grow and harvest drugs that close to a school? It's quite apparent he has no moral values or consideration for the children at the school.

It's time those he's been bragging to came forth and informed law enforcement of the guilty party. An anonymous tip may be submitted on the sheriff's department website by clicking here. Only when he's arrested will this case be closed.

Springfield Business Victim of Hit & Run

Shortly after midnight on Sunday the 8th of July, a business in Springfield became the victim of a hit and run. Cathy Jo Shuping, 36 of Frostburg, drove her Mitsubishi Montero through the front block wall of Riverside Market. Ms. Shuping didn't stop there. She backed out of the store and fled the scene dragging parts of her vehicle with her.

A Springfield Co. 42 fireman who arrived on scene shortly after the incident caught up with the vehicle a few miles down Green Spring Valley Road and proceeded to alert the Hampshire County 911 center to it's location and direction of travel. He proceeded to follow it to the Mexico Farms area of Allegany County on Route 51 where it was stopped by Maryland State Police.

The vehicle had sparks coming from it, was driving on three tires and had no tail lights when stopped. Ms. Shuping was charged with a DUI, negligent driving and operating an unsafe vehicle in Allegany County. Charges are pending in Hampshire County.

Thanks to the quick thinking of the Co. 42 member who followed her, she didn't get away with the hit and run.

Shackelford DUI Update

A picture is worth a thousand words. Case dismissed by Magistrate Billmeyer due to no probable cause for traffic stop.

Another Strike For Green Spring Valley PSD

Green Spring Valley Public Service District is just about as inept at keeping up on their record keeping as they are at providing water consistently to their customers. For the second year in a row, the West Virginia Public Service Commission has launched an investigation into the local PSD's failure to file their Annual Report.

I would think that two secretaries could certainly handle compiling the information for that one especially since Mark Puffinburger, Roger Whisner and Gary Bradfield find it necessary to have two secretaries where only one part time office assistant is needed. Fort Ashby PSD only has one part time secretary, and they serve more customers than ours does. Apparently the board in Green Spring finds it more appropriate to hire unneeded help rather than pay it's bills. The stack of unpaid bills each month by far outnumbers the paid stack, but payroll is met consistently.

Speaking of paid bills, I wonder if Mr. Puffinburger receives his rent check each month from the PSD? I'm sure he does and most certain it is on time.

Speaking of Mr. Puffinburger, why does he find it acceptable to adjust water bills for his friends who fill their swimming pools or leave the water run wide open so the pipes won't freeze and refuse to adjust a customer's bill because they were out of water for 15 days in a month?

It's house cleaning time in Green Spring. The best thing that could happen to the PSD is for the county or state to take it over, get rid of the two secretaries and simply hire one that can actually do the job, and get rid of those board members!