County repeat drug offender

receives long prison sentence

A Fenwick man who admitted to selling illegal drugs in the county on three separate occasions received a sentence that is believed to be the longest ever handed down in a drug case in Nicholas County Circuit Court.

Roger A. Roach, 53, was sentenced on Tuesday, Jan. 17, to serve 4 to 60 years in prison for two counts of delivery of a controlled substance.

In a sentencing hearing before Circuit Judge Gary L. Johnson, Roach admitted that he had twice sold the narcotic oxycodene to a confidential informant on Feb. 15, 2011, in the Holcomb area. On each occasion, Roach sold two Oxicodone tablets to the informant for $90.

Nicholas County Prosecuting Attorney James Milam advised Judge Johnson that the defendant had previously been convicted of selling heroin in Nicholas County in August 2006. Milam went on to state that because of the previous conviction, Roach was subject to double the one to 1 to 15 year sentence prescribed under the statute for each offense.

When asked by Judge Johnson as to why the plea was consistent with the fair administration of justice, Milam stated that it was apparent that the previous prison sentence of 1 to 15 years was not long enough to deter Roach from his continued selling of illegal drugs.

 

 

 

 

Stepping up to the plate

These girls are getting a good idea of what it’s like to be a Girl Scout as they attend a cookie rally and bake-off with their big sisters. It was the “Me and My Guy” scout celebration where the scouts and their dads or other important man in their life competed in the cookie, pie, Girl Scout cookie, and cake division. The event took place at the Summersville Baptist Church Life Center on January 21. This important year marks the 100th Year Celebration of the Girl Scouts. Holding big platters of cookies and in some cases, sampling them, are from left, Jolena Miller, Mia May, Rachael Burkholder, Reese Trescott and Autumn Tompkins.

 

 

 

 

Man arrested on 42 felony charges

A Nicholas County man was arrested on Sunday, Jan. 22, and charged with 42 felony counts of failure to register as a sex offender.

Ivan Delbert Brooks, 45, of Nettie was taken into custody and charged with 42 separate felony counts of failing to complete a yearly registration with the Richwood or Summersville State Police Detachment as a lawfully convicted sexual offender.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Nicholas County Magistrate Court, Brooks had been convicted Jan. 2, 2007, in Onslow County, N.C., of the felony offense of indecent liberties with a minor.

The criminal complaint said that both Brooks and his wife advised that he had been living in his present residence for approximately two years and knew that he was in violation for not providing an update as required by his prior felony conviction.

The large number of charges are due to the required fields of information included on the registration form.

Investigating Trooper First Class D.P. White of the Richwood State Police detachment explain that the first 25 felony counts were for Brooks failing to show up to register yearly as a sexual offender. The other 17 charges were filed after it was determined that Brooks had moved to a second residence without notifying police.

 

 

 

 

Two Richwood Councilmen submit resignations

Maxine Corbett
Richwood Editor
Richwood’s Common Council sat in regular session on Jan. 19 where members learned of the resignations of two Councilmen.

Mike Little had submitted his resignation through a letter on Jan. 10. The letter stated “I hereby immediately tender my resignation as Councilman, Ward 1.” This resignation was accepted by Council members.

Later in the meeting, during the polling for Council concerns, Gary King also resigned.

His resignation, effective at the close of the meeting, was due to the fact that he had moved from Ward IV and was no longer legally able to serve. His resignation will be put on the agenda for action at the Feb. 2 Council meeting. As King now resides in Ward I, it was suggested that perhaps King can be appointed to fill the seat vacated by Mike Little’s resignation.

Also on the agenda for the first meeting in February will be City Attorney Keith McMillion. McMillion was asked by Council members to meet with them personally to clarify language in the Charter, along with the legalities involved in calling special meetings and executive sessions.

 

 

 

 

School Board hires Attendance Director

The Nicholas County Board of Education hired a new Attendance Director at their meeting on Monday evening, Jan. 23,

The Board also heard Local School Improvement Council presentations from four Summersville area schools and discussed travel by Board members.

Present for the meeting held in the Summersville Middle School Library were Board President Dr, Lloyd Adkins, Vice-President Phil Berry and members Barbara Taylor, Jason Swager and Bob M. O’Dell.

Employment of Attendance Director
On a motion considered separately from the other personnel changes, the Board voted 4-1 to employ Gene Collins as the new County Attendance Director. Board member Swager voted against the motion.

Collins replaces the former attendance director, Kathy Hypes, who resigned to accept a position with the state Department of Education. His employment is effective Jan. 25.

Collins is a teacher at Richwood Middle School and also serves as assistant director of the Richwood High School Lumberjack Express.

 

 

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