FAYETTEVILLE, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Two individuals face Malicious Assault charges after the beating and kicking of an inmate at Mount Olive Correctional Complex.
According to Anthony Ciliberti, Jr,., Prosecuting Attorney for Fayette County, on November 10, 2020, Willie Copley and Benjamin Marcum engaged in an attack on another inmate while all three were incarcerated at Mount Olive Correctional Complex in Mount Olive, Fayette County.
The unnamed victim was reportedly beaten and kicked in the head before being life-flighted to Charleston Area Medical Center. The victim sustained multiple broken facial bones.
On December 6, 2023, Willie Copley, age 37, pled guilty to the felony crime of malicious assault and was sentenced to two-to-ten years in prison by Fayette County Circuit Court Judge Thomas H. Ewing. The sentence was ordered to be served consecutively to the prison sentence currently being served by Copley out of Wayne County for First-Degree Murder and Robbery. Therefore, Copley must serve a minimum of two additional years in prison before potentially becoming eligible for parole.
On December 12, 2023, Benjamin Marcum, age 43, pled guilty to the felony offense of Malicious Assault and was sentenced to two-to-ten years in prison by Fayette County Circuit Court Judge Thomas H. Ewing. The sentence was ordered to be served consecutively to the prison sentence currently being served by Marcum out of Wayne County for First-Degree Murder and Robbery. Therefore, Marcum must serve a minimum of two additional years in prison before potentially becoming eligible for parole.
The case was investigated by the West Virginia State Police and prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Sarah F. Smith.
