Times West Virginian • 6th April 2024

Pagans' member murder trial ends in guilty verdict, no mercy

FAIRMONT — On Wednesday, Marion County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Sean Murphy showed the jury photos police took of Henry Silver’s body after he was gunned down by men in black ski masks in 2022.

Members of Silver’s family wept in the front row. On Friday, the jury gave them justice with a guilty verdict.

The jury found John Lee Wolfe guilty of conspiring to murder Silver on the night of Sept. 9, 2022. The state accused members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club of killing Silver in the parking

Times West Virginian • 5th April 2024

Evidence unravels Pagans' defense in Marion County Circuit Court

FAIRMONT — Assistant County Prosecuting Attorney Sean Murphy buried John Wolfe’s defense with an avalanche of forensic evidence on day two of his trial.

Wolfe faces murder and conspiracy charges for the killing of Henry Silver in September 2022.

“Keep your phone on, I might need bail money,” Wolfe wrote to Ryan Lane on Sept. 9, 2022 by text. Lane is president of the Pagans Motorcycle Club chapter Wolfe belongs to.

Ten minutes later, Silver was gunned down in the parking lot of the Carolina Ar

Times West Virginian • 4th April 2024

Defense makes Pagans' trial outcome unclear on day one in Marion County Circuit Court

FAIRMONT — It seemed like an open and shut case, with the prosecution ready to mount a strong case on the first day of the John Lee Wolfe trial.

However, by the end of the day, it was clear Wolfe’s defense attorneys weren’t prepared to allow the prosecution the luxury of a foregone conclusion.

Wolfe is on trial for the 2022 killing of Henry Silver in Carolina. Assistant Marion County Prosecuting Attorney Sean Murphy characterized the case as one that had the hallmarks of a compelling Netflix s

Times West Virginian • 27th March 2024

Gunfight shooter’s grandfather tells story of a life spiraling out of control

FAIRMONT — Lawrence Michael Jecker has one dream that sticks out in vivid memory for him. His step-grandson, Peyton Fritts, and Fritts’ deceased father, are standing on a ledge overlooking a body of water.

“[Fritts’ father] is holding Peyton really tight, Peyton’s face is — like, their hearts are together,” Jecker said. “I mean, they’re just — he just closed his eyes and he leaps into the water. And then, downstream a little later, a young boy is down there and he’s walking along the bank and h

Times West Virginian • 18th January 2024

Disgraced former Fairmont Regional doctor ordered to pay over $1M in civil sexual assault trial

FAIRMONT — Mark Mena Samaan must pay the plaintiff in a sexual assault civil case $1.1 million dollars.

The disgraced doctor was brought to trial by a plaintiff who accused Samaan of sexually assaulting her at Fairmont Regional Medical Center in 2018. The plaintiff was represented by Brianna McCardle of Ardent Legal. Samaan represented himself, which in practice amounted to a no call, no show at trial Wednesday at the Marion County Courthouse.

“Remember, today is about choices,” McCardle said

Times West Virginian • 6th December 2023

Richardson pleads no contest to the March 2021 murder of 4-year-old Fairmont boy

FAIRMONT — Marion County Circuit Judge David Janes denied mercy to 36-year-old Walter E. Richardson III in court on Tuesday.

The state and Richardson both presented their cases before the court in what was a solemn four or five hours of testimony which revealed how far Richardson had gone when beating a four year old boy to death. The case stemmed back to the death of a 4 year old boy in Richardson’s care in March of 2021.

“Nothing about what Richardson did to [the boy] was merciful,” Assistan

Times West Virginian • 16th December 2023

Marion County rape case ends with Joseph Scott Taylor imprisoned for life

FAIRMONT — Convicted rapist Joseph Scott Taylor will spend his life behind bars with no possibility of parole.

Marion County Circuit Court Judge David Janes acquiesced to Marion County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Sean Murphy’s request Friday to give Taylor the maximum sentence on the one conviction that carried a life sentence without a possibility of parole. Murphy argued that Taylor deserved to be put away for life as a measure to protect the public from a likely future homicide at the han

Times West Virginian • 1st November 2023

Petition seeking accountability for killing of Deerfield man reaches near 100 signatures

FAIRMONT — A new petition is calling on the Marion County Prosecuting Attorney’s office to release a public statement regarding the killing of Charles Echols III. The petition states an arrest should be made, and precluding that, at least an explanation of why no arrest took place should be made to the public regarding the July death.

“They still haven’t mentioned a name, no one has been arrested,” Precious Echols, daughter of Echols III, said. “I feel like they’re just trying to overlook this