A trial date has been scheduled for a man charged with the murder of Cheyanne Johnson in Kanawha County in 2021. Michael Wayne Smith, 44, appeared in Kanawha County Circuit Court for his pretrial hearing, during which Judge Kenneth Ballard set his trial for Feb. 12, 2024, at 9 a.m.
Smith is facing first-degree murder charges for the shooting death of Cheyanne Johnson, 35, from Jackson County. Johnson was reported missing in the Cottageville area on April 29, 2021, and her body was later discovered in a deep water well in Sissonville.
During the hearing, Smith's attorney, Lauren Thompson, filed several motions, one of which involves unsealing grand jury transcripts. Thompson also requested the unsealing of a transcript from an interview at the Child Advocacy Center. Additionally, Thompson questioned the accuracy of the alibi request timeframe, which was confirmed by Kanawha County Assistant Prosecutor Debra Rusnak.
Rusnak explained that delays in the case were due to the defendant hiring a new attorney and the complexity of the evidence. She stated, "We initially had an issue where the defendant hired a new attorney and I think it's taken some time for her to get caught up. Frankly, this is a very technical case with a lot of evidence."
Prosecutors have been reviewing extensive documentation, including three 6-inch binders filled with documents and multiple flash drives containing statements and other evidence.
According to the criminal complaint, Smith admitted to shooting Johnson in the head with a rifle and then disposing of her body in a well. He claimed that Johnson had stolen his girlfriend's car and was killed during an argument upon returning it.
Smith's girlfriend, Virginia Smith, 31, who is not related to him, previously pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in February. As part of her plea agreement, she is expected to testify at Michael Smith's trial. She remains in custody without bond at the South Central Regional Jail until her sentencing, which will occur at a later date.
Michael Smith is currently incarcerated at the Mount Olive Correctional Center, serving a sentence for drug-related charges. If convicted of first-degree murder, he could face life in prison.
Rusnak emphasized the severity of Smith's actions and the importance of holding him accountable, stating, "We have an individual who has a violent history and who is a known violent criminal. The act that he committed that day was heinous. To allow that atrocity to go unanswered doesn't serve anyone the justice that should be served in this case."
A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Jan. 30, 2024, at 10 a.m. in front of Judge Ballard.
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