By Sarah Richardson
Alderson Mayor Travis Copenhaver appeared in Greenbrier County Magistrate Court on Wednesday, Oct. 20, for a preliminary hearing with Magistrate Judge Tim Stover. The hearing’s purpose was to determine if there was probable cause for three felonies: child neglect, burglary, and conspiracy, which were charged against him after an incident in June. Copenhaver was also charged with one count of misdemeanor assault.
According to a criminal complaint filed in magistrate court, Copenhaver, Copenhaver’s 12-year-old son, and Lloyd “Billy” Lightner entered the home of Charlie Baldwin in Alderson without his consent, tampered with belongings, urinated in a bed, and removed a rifle and compound bow from the premises. Baldwin’s girlfriend arrived at the residence while they were still on the property and alleges they harassed her and “boxed her in” with a vehicle.
Lightner is facing separate charges stemming from this incident.
Baldwin rented the home from the Lightner family for nearly eight years, and eviction proceedings had been filed against him on the same day of the incident. During a court interview, Baldwin stated that he was notified he had seven days to remove himself from the property.
Copenhaver’s attorney stated that the men believed the house to be abandoned, as the power had been turned off, and they claimed Baldwin was not residing in the Alderson residence, but instead living with his girlfriend at her residence in Ronceverte. Baldwin argued that wasn’t the case, and said he stayed at the home the night before the incident and was home that morning. While he had spent some time at his girlfriend’s house after he was involved in a car accident, he says that he never abandoned the property. Baldwin also said that the power had been turned off after he missed his bill due to his accident.
Copenhaver’s attorney stated that the mayor was acting as a designated driver for his brother-in-law, Lightner, on the night of the incident. Lightner directed Copenhaver to take him to Baldwin’s house for the purpose of conducting an inspection. Copenhaver and his son then drove Lightner to the home, where all three entered the house. Lightner located the rifle, which was loaded, and the crossbow, inside a locked cabinet. Lightner then passed the loaded rifle to Copenhaver’s son for him to remove from the house and put in the vehicle.
The defense argued that Lightner wanted to remove the weapons as they were a safety issue. However, Baldwin said he stored other loaded guns in the cabinet where the rifle and crossbow were kept, which were not removed. Baldwin said that in order to access the weapons you had to use “a screwdriver” or something similar.
Copenhaver alleges that he didn’t see who urinated in the bed, but West Virginia State Trooper Ethan Beard stated that there was “back and forth” on who did it when he was conducting interviews.
Copenhaver’s son saw headlights approaching the house, causing the men to exit the home, where Baldwin’s girlfriend saw them outside as she approached. There was a confrontation, during which she called Baldwin, who arrived shortly thereafter. Baldwin called 911 to report the incident. After the men left, Baldwin discovered they had been inside the home when he found the front door “ajar,” items strewn about, and his rifle and bow missing. Baldwin said that Betty Lightner, Billy Lightner’s mother, called him later while apologizing and brought back the rifle and crossbow. “She kept apologizing about Lloyd and blaming alcohol,” said Baldwin.
He said that he didn’t stay at the home that night as he felt “uncomfortable” doing so, but met State Police there the next day to do a walkthrough.
After hearing from Officer Beard, Baldwin, and Baldwin’s girlfriend, Judge Stover ruled that there was probable cause for the felony charges. “It bothers me that there was a 12-year-old there,” he said.
The case will now move to Greenbrier County Circuit Court. More details will be released as the case progresses.
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