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Wetzel County Court Case Ends After Five Years

Following years of court proceedings, a Wetzel County man pleaded guilty in Marshall County Circuit Court Monday to kidnapping his former wife.

John Michael Howell, 46, formerly of New Martinsville, now faces a life sentence with mercy for a felony kidnapping charge, meaning he would meet with a parole board after completing 15 years of the sentence.

Howell initially pleaded innocent Jan. 18, 2011, to a four-count indictment charging him with felony sexual assault and kidnapping, occurring Dec. 14, 2010, in Wetzel County. He allegedly stabbed his former wife’s breast implant with a syringe and punched her genitals with his fist after she attempted to leave his home in rural Wetzel County, about 20 miles outside of New Martinsville.

Three charges, included first-degree sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault and malicious assault were dismissed in lieu of the plea due to the life sentence associated with the felony charge, according to the Marshall County Prosecutor’s office.

Howell’s trial began as scheduled with jury selection Monday morning, but Howell and his defense interrupted the proceedings late in the afternoon to enter the plea before Senior Status Judge Arthur Recht.

According to Assistant Prosecutor Andrea Poling, the sentence will also forbid Howell from contacting the alleged victim ever again.

“The victim is happy with the outcome so we are happy with the outcome,” Poling said.

Howell’s proceedings began in Wetzel County, where the crime occurred, but the case was moved to Marshall County in July 2014 after Howell spat on Wetzel County Prosecutor Timothy Haught during a hearing. Prior to a September hearing, he was required to wear a spit guard in court.

Marshall County Prosecutor Rhonda Wade said she is happy to have the case closed after five years.

“I think he saw we were prepared to go to trial which made him think carefully about the case,” she said.

Due to the kidnapping charge carrying a possible life sentence, Howell was entitled to two lawyers. He requested new lawyers more than a dozen times following his initial arrest, causing several delays. Bond was never set, and Howell has been in jail since his arrest.

A trial was set for Sept. 28, but was once again pushed back due to evidence testing delays, prompting Recht to move the trial to January.

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