Jury finds Mount Clare man guilty of 2 sex crimes against child

Ash also will face a lifetime sex offender requirement that would begin whenever whatever sentence he receives ends. Ash also will face a supervised release term of up to 50 years that also would begin when his sentence ends.

The court remanded Ash to jail following the verdict. The next step will be for the court to hear any post-trial motions, and then sentence Ash.

Assistant Prosecutor Brad Pustolski had said the evidence would show that Ash molested the child on two different occasions during play with the child and other children.

Defense attorney Alex Harclerode had said the case was a “he-said, she-said” matter, and added that he didn’t think a lot of the allegations added up.

Ash plans an appeal, according to Harclerode.

Harrison Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. A.C. Vernon had the case for Harrison Sheriff Robert Matheny II.

Also:

— A Morgantown sex offender has been sentenced to the maximum 10 years in federal prison for not updating his federal sex offender registration.

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh also imposed lifetime supervised release on Scott David Bixler, 44, to begin once Bixler is released from prison.

Bixler had pleaded guilty last August to the indictment. He did so without a plea agreement.

Bixler traveled to Mexico in August 2023 without notifying West Virginia State Police, former U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld said.

Bixler was apprehended in Mexico trying to buy a 7-year-old girl, according to Ihlenfeld.

Court documents reveal that he was in possession of two tranquilizer air guns, methamphetamine, a cell phone jammer, and $5,000 in cash intended for the purchase, according to Ihlenfeld.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Perri represented the government. The case was investigated by the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and West Virginia State Police.

Assistant Federal Defender Hilary Godwin represented Bixler and presented a sentencing memorandum with 13 attachments. All were sealed by the court.

Bixler receives credit for time served since Aug. 3, 2023.

Also:

— Herbert Leroy Nunn II, 50, of Shinnston, has pleaded guilty to one count of failure to register as a lifetime sex offender, according to Harrison Assistant Prosecutor James Armstrong, for Prosecutor Rachel Romano.

The state dismissed a second count of the same charge as part of the plea agreement.

The sides retain the right to argue sentencing, set March 14 before Circuit Judge D. Andrew McMunn.

Trooper N.P. Clifton investigated.

— Alexander James Messenger, 19, of Clarksburg, has pleaded guilty to felony grand larceny, according to Harrison Assistant Prosecutor Laura Pickens, for Prosecutor Romano.

Messenger will be sentenced at 2:30 p.m. March 14 by Judge McMunn.

On Sept. 10, 2023, Messenger stole an all-terrain vehicle from a property on Laurel Park Road, Clarksburg, Harrison Deputy A.M. Long has alleged.

— Ronald Michael Gilmore, 41, of Clarksburg, has waived his probable cause hearings on charges of fleeing while under the influence of methamphetamine and grand larceny.

Gilmore fled from law enforcement Jan. 24 near the Meadowbrook Mall in Bridgeport, with the pursuit lasting until he crashed his vehicle into a ditch on W.Va. 20 in Quiet Dell, according to a court document.

Gilmore also is accused of committing grand larceny Nov. 9, and his waiver also sent that charge to Harrison County Circuit Court.

Officer N.S. Fiber investigated the fleeing under the influence charge, while I.M. Harmon of State Police investigated the grand larceny charge.

— Brandon Duane Hunter, 34, of Clarksburg, has waived his probable cause hearing in Harrison County Magistrate Court on a charge of entering without breaking.

On Aug. 16, Hunter unlawfully entered the Mountaineer Mart through a door whose glass had been shattered in a separate, unrelated break-in about two hours prior, Clarksburg Detective Sgt. K.L. Collins alleges.

Hunter stole tobacco products worth about $335, Collins alleges.