Flemington, West Virginia woman receives 1-15 for possession charge but allowed to serve it on community corrections

For her actions, Parsons faced a potential sentence of 1-15 years’ incarceration in the West Virginia State Penitentiary, a fine of $15,000 or both.

According to Parsons, she was found to have seven grams of methamphetamine that she has purchased off an individual that she had planned on then reselling to make a profit. She told the court that she paid approximately $250 for the drugs and would be able to make considerably more money selling it.

Taylor County Prosecutor John Bord revealed to the court that the drugs had been confirmed as methamphetamine through the West Virginia State Police Crime Lab, and they were waiting for that confirmation before presenting the plea deal to the court.

He further told the court that while Parsons had previously had some issues with positive drug screens while on supervision through the Taylor County Community Corrections Program, Director Tammy Narog had reported that the defendant had been doing well in recent months.

“She reports as she should, has been respectful and is taking the program seriously,” Narog told the court. “She is committed to her drug treatment program and has only had one positive screen since undergoing counseling. And she continues to attend her GED classes.”

Citing that his client had made considerable strides in her treatment and recovery, Richardson petitioned the court to adopt the agreement made between the two parties.

“She did have some slip ups, but Ms. Parsons has been very forthcoming about her addiction and has taken her treatment seriously,” Richardson said. “We would ask that she be permitted to continue serving her sentence through Community Corrections, as it would be in her best interest.”

Judge Hoxie told Parsons that he had little issue holding her sentence in abeyance and allowing her to serve her time on the program, where she would be able to continue to work on her sobriety and obtain her GED.

“There is a terrible meth problem in Taylor County, and you were perpetuating that problem by attempting to sell it,” Hoxie explained. “While I don’t see an issue letting you out on Community Corrections, the court is going to warn you that there cannot be continued usage. You cannot associate with any drug user or dealer. Should you find yourself having issues with that, you need to contact Ms. Narog immediately.”

After adjudicating Parsons guilty of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, he ordered that her 1–15-year prison sentence would be held in abeyance, permitting her to serve it on Community Corrections, to continue to receive drug treatment.