At the end of January several stories had been reported by WSAZ News Channel 3 in W.Va., that told the tale of an estranged husband facing charges in connection with five people he allegedly held hostage, the sexual assault of his wife and setting a home on fire.
Kidnapping, assault and arson are just three of the charges lodged against B.C. for the incident occurring on January 23.
It began when B.C. allegedly broke into a home and locked three people into a bathroom, while he sexually assaulted his wife. Then, when he was done, he unlocked the bathroom door, let the three people out – but then ordered them to set fire to the home.
B.C.’s wife, C.C., made her escape – only to be entrapped by two neighbors and brutally attacked again.
Deputies located B.C., 61, hiding in the woods located around the home after the fire.
Sheriff Rodney Miller said, “The house was on fire. We had victims all over the area. Plus, we had an individual that was on the run.”
Of the second attack on C.C. Sheriff Miller said, “They attacked our victim again and beat her even more, after her husband had inflicted those injuries on her.”
A neighbor that took C.C. into her home after the final assaults said, “She said she'd been beat up and held hostage by her husband. Bruises and cuts on her. She was in pretty bad shape.”
Another neighbor, P.A., commented, “I know (B.C.) so it didn't surprise me that he acted out like that.”
B.C. has had other scrapes with the law prior to this act. Sheriff Miller added, “It is a concern of law enforcement because in the short period of time we were having to deal with him, there were such frequent and violent calls for service.”
On November 15 B.C. was arrested for domestic assault and a weapons charge, on November 17 he was arrested on a charge of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, in December he violated the domestic violence petition that his wife had filed against him and earlier this January he was back in court again on domestic assault charges.
Magistrate C. Porter Snodgrass handled all of the cases – but Snodgrass refused to comment to the press on the latest charges.
The prosecuting attorney for Kanawha County, Mark Plans, said, “In the end, domestic violence petitions and court orders are just pieces of paper. And, unless someone's incarcerated, then there's nothing preventing that person from going into anyone's house and attacking them or abusing them.”
On the current charges of kidnapping, B.C. was refused bond. On the other charges – specifically sexual assault, arson and malicious wounding – a combined bail amount of $150,000 was set.
B.C.’s soon-to-be ex-wife is recuperating in a hospital.
Whether you are facing one criminal charge or several, do yourself a favor and contact a criminal defense attorney right away. Working on your defense is paramount at this time.
