A 19-year-old Wheeling man will be going to prison rather than high school.
Jeffrey Newland appeared before Circuit Judge Arthur Recht on Tuesday after he was found to have violated conditions of his Jan. 17 release, when Recht placed Newland on probation to allow him time to finish studies at Wheeling Park High School before reporting to the Anthony Center for Youthful Offenders.
Newland had been convicted of entering without breaking and was sentenced to the Anthony Center in lieu of prison, but he was allowed to complete high school.
Tuesday's hearing came after the court received word that Newland had excessive absence from school. The judge said he felt Newland was not taking his opportunity to complete his education seriously.
"The guy is just playing games," Recht said.
Recht rescinded Newland's previous sentence to the youth center and ordered him held at the Northern Regional Jail at Moundsville, pending completion of a pre-sentencing investigation report. Newland could be facing at one to three years in prison.
Jeff Laird, attendance director of Ohio County Schools, reviewed Newland's attendance records prior to Recht's decision.
In another Tuesday hearing, Joshua Clemons, 22, of 4613 Wetzel St., Wheeling was ordered to be returned to the Anthony Center as soon as space is available. Clemons, who was convicted of burglary, was at the Anthony Center but returned to the regional jail to allow his participation in drug rehabilitation.
After defense attorney Richard Hollandsworth said his client had not taken methadone for two weeks, Recht ordered Clemons back to the youth center.