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Parkersburg man sentenced for Memorial Bridge incident

MARIETTA — A Parkersburg man was sentenced on Wednesday in Washington County Common Pleas Court to six months in prison, rehabilitation for substance abuse, a lifetime suspension of driving privileges and five years community control after a May 17 arrest on the Memorial Bridge.

William Schofield, 58, of 1717 15th St., was arrested by the Belpre Police Department after his vehicle was pulled over on the bridge. Officers stated that Schofield appeared to be inebriated and found methamphetamine in his possession.

The police also reported he gave the arresting officer a false name, which happened to be the name of a man that the officer went to high school with.

After an Oct. 19 guilty plea to a third-degree felony OVI charge, Schofield didn’t report for sentencing and received a fourth-degree felony charge for failure to appear. Schofield pleaded guilty to the charge on Dec. 20.

Washington County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark Kerenyi said Schofield’s drunk driving history concerned him.

“Looking through your record, you have 10 prior convictions,” he said. “Why will this be your last one?”

“My children. Six, 7 and 8 years old,” Schofield said. “They need me.”

Before sentencing, Washington County Assistant Prosecutor Joe Derkin told the court he approved of the plea deal that will aim to get Schofield help getting sober.

“I wish you the best of luck,” Derkin told Schofield.

Under the deal, Kerenyi sentenced Schofield to 18 month in prison for his OVI. But if Schofield is a model prisoner, Kerenyi said he will be transported to a drug rehabilitation facility after six months. Schofield was also sentenced to five years community control after he is released from rehabilitation for his failure to appear conviction. If he fails to meet the requirements of his control, he can be put back in prison for up to an additional 18 months. Kerenyi also ordered Schofield to pay the mandatory $1,350 fine for the OVI and he was given a lifetime suspension of his driving privileges..

Kerenyi told Schofield if he acts up in his first six months of confinement or fails to complete the drug program, he could end up being incarcerated for the entire 36-month sentence. Kerenyi warned Schofield there was no room for error.

“There is a huge hammer hanging over your head,” he said.

After the sentencing, Derkin said Schofield has gone through a dramatic physical change since he first saw him.

“He looked like the Crypt Keeper…He looks so much better now,” he said. “Being incarcerated, not being able to do meth, not being able to drink has really helped him out.”

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