Woman gets 10 years for Marion County, West Virginia, federal gun crime

It was the maximum possible sentence, but the government had dismissed a second charge involving the obliterated serial number.

The sentence runs consecutive to time Hardesty is serving for parole revocations on her 2018 and 2019 Marion County drug cases, as well as for a 2022 Randolph County contraband crime.

Hardesty could parole on the state convictions next Jan. 1, or discharge with good-behavior credit by late October 2028. After that, the federal sentence will start. It has minimal good-behavior credit opportunities and no parole.

Once her federal incarceration is complete, Hardesty will have to serve three more years on federal extended court supervision.

The federal gun crime occurred Sept. 16, 2021, in Marion County.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Flower represented the government. Assistant Federal Defender Katy Cimino was the lawyer for Hardesty.

Also:

— A 67-year-old Lumberport man is accused of firing his .40-caliber handgun at another vehicle that he believed cut him off on Friday near the Harrison Power Station.

Ernest Arlin Leggett admitted twice firing the gun between the Power Station and the Shinnston Dollar General “while angry over being [cutoff],” Senior Trooper D.M. Goodman alleged in charging Leggett with two counts of felony wanton endangerment.

Leggett told law enforcement he had smoked methamphetamine the morning prior to the incident, according to Goodman.

The victim alleged his vehicle was shot at two to four times, according to the complaint.

Prior to the alleged shooting, the victim had pulled a black 2018 Ram 1500 out of the Power Station in front of the defendant, who was driving a gray 2017 Nissan Rogue, Goodman alleged.

“The defendant believed the victim cut him off and was driving too slowly; he became angered by the situation,” Goodman alleged.

Goodman and troopers I.L. Bowman and T.A. Hill obtained a search warrant to look for clothing worn by Leggett, the gun and residue samples from the defendant and his vehicle, according to the complaint.

Harrison Magistrate Kimberly Wygal set bond at $150,000 10/90 or property after Leggett entered a not guilty plea.

— James Golden Reynolds, 33, of Lost Creek, has been charged with felony identity theft and failure to pay child support by Trooper Bowman.

Reynolds failed to make 75 payments from 2017 through this year, owing a total of about $16,800, Bowman alleged. During that same period, Reynolds paid about $7,475 toward his child support, according to the complaint.

Meanwhile, Reynolds used a juvenile’s name to create the Cash App account $SatansSon6660 on Feb. 26, 2023, Bowman alleged.

Magistrate Wygal set bond at $6,000 10/90 or property.

— John D. Keener II has pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi to unlawful possession of a .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol March 22, 2023, in Monongalia County.

Keener has a prior Marion County drug conviction and a prior felony driving revoked for DUI conviction in Monongalia County, the government has alleged.

Final plea/plea agreement acceptance now shifts to Chief Judge Kleeh.