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Man Sentenced in Marshall County Hammer Attack Case

MOUNDSVILLE — A Marshall County man could spend more than 70 years behind bars after pleading guilty Wednesday to attacking a woman with a hammer while robbing her house for drugs.

Zachary Blake, 21, of Moundsville entered into a plea agreement Wednesday morning and was sentenced to 50 years for robbery, two to 10 years for malicious assault and one to 15 years for burglary. The penalties are consecutive, for an effective sentence of 53-75 years.

The charges stem from an attack in May, when Blake entered a home near Fish Creek looking for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medication. Once there, Blake attacked the 65-year-old woman residing there with a hammer, resulting in serious injuries.

The victim still suffers from health problems, such as blurred vision, and is expected to undergo more surgery in the near future. During the attack, Blake struck her several times with the hammer, resulting in serious injuries to her face, head and arms as she attempted to defend herself.

Should the case have gone to trial, Blake faced a minimum of 10 years on the robbery charge, which carries no maximum sentence, meaning he could have been sentenced to life if convicted.

When asked to explain his actions, Blake did not elaborate. Aside from answering routine questions, Blake did not otherwise comment.

“I went to the house and I committed the crime,” he said.

Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Canestraro said officers at the scene found the victim on the floor, covered in blood with a hammer near her.

“The defendant had broken and entered the residence to steal a controlled substance. … The victim suffers from loss of vision and hearing and the use of her right arm, after 70 surgeries and procedures,” Canestraro said.

Canestraro said Blake may be eligible to have his sentence modified after 37.5 years in prison. As part of the plea agreement, charges of assault during the commission of a felony were dropped.

Also appearing in court Wednesday morning was Brittany Bush, 27, of Moundsville, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance. She was arrested in March, along with her parents, Amanda Bush and George “Chad” Bush. George Bush was subsequently sentenced to two to 10 years in prison, while Amanda Bush also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to complete a drug rehabilitation program.

“We believe George (Bush) to have been the cook, and Brittany conspired with him by knowingly buying pseudoephedrine,” said Assistant Prosecutor Herman Lantz.

Brittany Bush will be sentenced at a later date, and faces one to five years in prison.

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