FAYETTEVILLE, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Two men involved in various instances of theft and destruction of property throughout the Fayette County area were sentenced to prison earlier this week.
Fayette County Prosecuting Attorney Anthony Ciliberti Jr announced on Tuesday that Austin R. Redden – 30-years-old of Oak Hill, WV – and Joel Sowder – 44-years-old of Scarbro, WV – had been sentenced by Fayette County Chief Circuit Judge Paul M. Blake Jr. for felony crimes.
As reported by the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of Fayette County, the acts committed by the defendants read as follows:
“On or about November 24, 2021, Redden and Sowder, along with Paul Buckner, stole over one thousand dollars ($1,000) worth of scrap metal from in and around the transmission tower above WOAY-TV near Hilltop, Fayette County, West Virginia. Buckner previously plead guilty to destruction of property for his involvement in these crimes.”
Additionally, “Oo or about October 4, 2021, Sowder broke into the community center at Hilltop Baptist Church in Hilltop, Fayette County, West Virginia. Security cameras from the premises showed Sowder entering the building, removing multiple items including electronics from the building, and staging the items around the edges of the property. Sowder admitted that he intended to return later to retrieve the items.”
Austin R. Redden has been sentenced to one (1) to ten (10) years in prison by Chief Circuit Judge Paul M. Blake, Jr. on February 7, 2023, for the felony crime of Grand Larceny. Redden entered a guilty plea to this crime on December 6, 2022. Redden must spend one (1) year in prison before he is eligible for parole.
On February 6, 2023, Joel Sowder, age 44, of Scarbro, WV, was sentenced to one (1) to ten (10) years in prison for the felony crime of entry of a building other than a dwelling, one (1) to five (5) years in prison for the felony crime of conspiracy, and one year in jail for the misdemeanor crime of destruction of property by Chief Circuit Judge Paul M. Blake, Jr. Sowder entered guilty pleas to these crimes on December 6, 2022. The felony sentences were ordered to be served consecutively, meaning Sowder must spend two (2) years in prison before he is eligible for parole.
These crimes were investigated by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Sarah F. Smith.
