Those accused of criminal offenses who canât afford an attorney and didnât qualify for a public defender may now qualify for help in Fayette County.
The Fayette County commissioners unanimously voted on Thursday to increase the income eligibility levels for free representation through the public defenderâs office.
Public Defender Susan Harper said the existing income guidelines have not increased in years â so many years, in fact, that she couldnât recall when the last increase happened.
The new guidelines state a single person living alone cannot make more than $1,063 per month to qualify for a public defender; the limit prior was $767 per month.
May 20, 2021
4 hrs ago
Clerk Deborah B. Hendrick has released the names of individuals to be arraigned in the current term of the Circuit Court of Fayette County.
The following individuals will report at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 21 in the courtroom of the Fayette County Courthouse before the Honorable Paul M. Blake Jr., judge of the Circuit Court of Fayette County.
Calvin W. Adkins, 21-F-68, sexual assault in the third degree, a felony; soliciting a minor via computer to engage in sexual activity, a felony; employment of a minor to produce obscene matter, a felony (2 counts); use of obscene matter with the intent to seduce a minor, a felony
Some Fayette County voters found their ballots were rejected by the scanning machine on Tuesday because they were missing bar codes due to a printing error.
Commissioner Scott Dunn said they received word that âmanyâ Republican ballots and some Democrat ballots were printed without bar codes. As of late Tuesday afternoon, Dunn said he couldnât give a total number of ballots that would have to be counted by hand.
Dunn said poll workers were told to put the ballots that could not be scanned into the emergency slot in the machines, and assured voters that they would be counted.
Meetings
Fayette County Farmland Protection Board â The Fayette County Farmland Protection Board will hold a regular meeting at the New Roots Community Farm at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18 for the transaction of board business. The public is cordially invited to attend.
Bridge Day Commission The Bridge Day Commission will meet at 1:30 p.m. in the county commission chambers at the Fayette County Courthouse on the following dates: May 19, June 16, July 21, Aug. 19 and Sept. 15. Bridge Day 2021 will be held on Saturday, Oct. 16. For more on Bridge Day, visit officialbridgeday.com.
Legal Aid Board Meeting Legal Aid of West Virginia (LAWV) will hold its quarterly board of directors meeting at 12 p.m. on Friday, May 21. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the board meeting will be held virtually. Board meetings are typically open to the public in person, so if you would like to attend this board meeting, please reach out to Amy Crawford at Legal Aid of WV by calling 304-343-3013
A federal lawsuit filed against a former school police officer in the Connellsville Area School District alleged he assaulted a student and illegally recorded a meeting about the incident.
The suit names James E. Shaw Sr., who is already facing criminal charges in the incident, and a second officer, identified in the complaint only as Jesse. The studentâs mother filed the suit on his behalf, and neither are identified by name in the suit because the boy is under 18.
According to the complaint, on Oct. 16, the 17-year-old student left the Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center at the end of his school day and was walking toward the Connellsville Area High School parking lot when he was approached by both officers and questioned.