Richard Williams, left, and his attorney Bill Bostic appear before Judge Thomas C. Evans III for a sentencing hearing Nov. 12.

Cottageville man strikes daughter for swearing at him

RIPLEY — A Cottageville man was sentenced to a month in jail Nov. 12.

Richard Williams, 44, pleaded guilty to charges of domestic battery. Williams struck his daughter in the mouth after she swore at him. He was originally charged with child abuse resulting in bodily injury, a felony with a maximum sentence of five years in prison, but this charge was later reduced to a misdemeanor under the terms of a plea agreement.

Public Defender Bill Bostic asked that his client be either sentenced to time served or given probation, saying that he had attended parenting and anger management classes and had already spent 19 days in jail. Read the full story

RIPLEY — A Parkersburg man faces up to 45 years in prison on charges of sexual abuse.

Robert Atkinson, 51, was convicted by a jury of two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of sexual abuse by a custodian in August.

Atkinson was accused of molesting a foster child placed in his care in March 2007.

His sentencing hearing was held Nov. 12.

Atkinson’s family members, who spoke at the hearing, described him as a kind, caring, and religious family man, and Atkinson himself expressed remorse for his crime. Read the full story