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  • Glendle Belcher Jr., 56, of Princeton, stands to the right of his defense attorney, Bill Huffman, Monday, during a plea hearing before Circuit Judge Omar Aboulhosn. Tammie Toler

    PT Glendle Belcher Jr1.JPG

  • Glendle Belcher Jr., 56, of Princeton Tammie Toler

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January 29, 2013

Princeton man pleads guilty to sexual assault; sentencing slated in March

By TAMMIE TOLER Princeton Times

PRINCETON — Glendle Belcher Jr. told Circuit Judge Omar Aboulhosn Monday that he was guilty of third-degree sexual assault.

The 56-year-old defendant from Princeton pleaded guilty to two counts of the felony charge, in exchange for the state’s agreement to dismiss three charges of incest and another third-degree sexual assault count returned by the October 2012 Mercer County Grand Jury.

West Virginia State Code outlines that third-degree sexual assault occurs when one person engages in sexual intercourse or sexual intrusion with another person who is mentally defective or mentally incapacitated, or when a person 16 years or older engages in sexual intercourse or intrusion with a person more than four years younger than him or her. The charges carry a maximum possible sentence of 2-10 years, if Aboulhosn sentences Belcher to serve them consecutively.

According to information provided by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kelli Harshbarger, the sexual assaults to which Belcher pleaded took place on or about Nov. 12, 2011, and involved an adult male relative who was found incompetent to offer consent.

“Mr. Belcher did engage in sexual contact with [the victim] twice,” Harshbarger said the evidence showed.

Turning attention to the defendant, Aboulhosn asked if the state’s review of the case matched what Belcher had experienced.

“Yes, sir,” the defendant said, with defense counsel William “Bill” Huffman seated at his side.

The judge questioned Belcher extensively about whether he wished to enter the plea, particularly after the defendant appeared confused regarding his responses at one point.

Before Aboulhosn instructed Belcher to sign the necessary paperwork, the judge asked him to voice a “guilty” or “not guilty” plea to count one of the indictment.

“Not guilty?” Belcher questioned, looking to Huffman for guidance.

“This is your plea agreement,” the attorney advised, to which, Belcher answered, “Guilty.”

Aboulhosn stopped the procession of formal questions at that point and asked Belcher if he understood what he was doing in court that day.

“I was pleading guilty to what I did to him,” Belcher said, later assuring the judge that he understood the scope and importance of the plea hearing.

After clarifying those concerns, Aboulhosn continued with the hearing, accepting the plea and ordering a pre-sentence investigation of Belcher and his living conditions.

He slated sentencing for March 18, at 3:30 p.m.

Princeton attorney John “Jay” Williams was also on hand for the hearing, representing the legal interests of the victim in the case. Although Williams did not speak, Aboulhosn said the court had received the appropriate report from the guardian ad litem.

— Contact Tammie Toler at ttoler@ptonline.net.

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